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(CNN) – Effective October 1, Canada is removing all remaining Covid-19 entry restrictions, including testing, quarantine and isolation requirements, officials announced Monday.
“The Government of Canada will not renew the order on the council that expires on September 30th and will therefore remove all Covid-19 border requirements for all travelers entering Canada,” Health Minister Jean-Yves said. Duclos.
“This includes removing all federal testing quarantine and isolation requirements, as well as mandatory submission of health information on ArriveCAN,” he said.
Fully vaccinated international travelers can enter Canada as of September 7, 2021. Unvaccinated citizens and permanent residents were allowed to enter the country but must be quarantined for 14 days.
“This means that from October 1, travelers will no longer be required to undergo health checks for air and rail travel or wear masks on planes and trains,” said Omar Alghabra, the transport minister.
“Airlines will no longer need to review the vaccination status of foreign nationals, confirm that travelers have submitted their required information on ArriveCAN, or ensure compliance with pre-entry testing requirements.”
ArriveCAN is a government-initiated mobile app where travelers must enter their health information, including vaccination status. As of October 1, it will become a volunteer for anyone who wants to save time at the airport by uploading customs declaration documents in advance.
“Similar changes will also apply to passengers traveling by cruise,” added Alghabra.
Passengers and crew aboard ships will no longer be subject to vaccination or testing requirements before boarding a ship, he said.
While masks are no longer mandatory on planes and trains, Alghabra said authorities strongly encourage travelers to wear them.
Both ministers praised the vaccination rate as the main reason restrictions could be rolled back. However, ahead of the announcement, officials said the case count had increased in the country lately, while wastewater tests show local resurgences of the virus in some areas.
While deaths are declining and ICU levels remain low, the number of people hospitalized associated with the virus has been slowly declining, they said.
Officials anticipate a seasonal increase due to more time spent indoors, however, they attribute high vaccination rates – more than 85% of Canadians received two shots of vaccine – to giving the country a different “score” for navigating the virus.
Top image: Travelers check in at Vancouver International Airport, Canada, June 14, 2022. Credit: Liang Sen/Xinua/Getty Images
CNN’s Karla Cripps contributed to this report.
