The Canadian government eased COVID-19 restrictions Monday, allowing fully vaccinated travelers to enter the country without a negative pre-arrival molecular test.
The loosening of the restrictions coincided with a reduction of hospitalization rates from the coronavirus omicron variant that stressed the U.S. healthcare system at the start of the year.
Canada lifted its travel advisory for all non-essential international travel, officials said in a news release.
Here are the highlights of the new border rules:
- Fully vaccinated travelers need only show a negative antigen test taken the day before a scheduled flight or a land crossing. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests 72 hours before arrival are still accepted.
- Border officials will accept antigen tests only administered by a laboratory, health care entity or telehealth service. In other words, at-home rapid tests are not allowed for entrance into Canada.
- Fully vaccinated travelers are subject to random testing upon arrival. However, those travelers will not be required to quarantine while awaiting test results.
- Children under 12 years old who are traveling with fully vaccinated adults will be exempt from quarantine unless they have a condition that limits their activities.
- All travelers are required to use the ArriveCAN app before entering Canada.
