Omicron variant: Canada expands journey ban, seeks booster steering – Nationwide

Canada is limiting journey from three extra African international locations and searching for steering on COVID-19 boosters amid the emergence of the Omicron variant. 

In a press convention on Tuesday, Federal Well being Minister Jean-Yves Duclos mentioned overseas nationals from Nigeria, Malawi and Egypt who’ve been to these international locations over the previous two weeks won’t be able to enter Canada. This provides to the seven different African international locations barred by Canada on Friday: South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini.

Canadians and everlasting residents, in addition to all those that have the suitable to return to Canada, who’ve transited by way of these international locations over the previous two weeks, should quarantine, be examined on the airport, and await their take a look at outcomes earlier than exiting quarantine, Duclos mentioned.

Along with the journey ban, Canadians and everlasting residents — even those that are absolutely vaccinated — have to be examined earlier than getting into Canada after being to any of the ten international locations listed, mentioned Transport Minister Omar Alghbara.

“Canadians might want to cease and acquire legitimate ends in a 3rd nation earlier than getting into Canada,” Alghbara mentioned.

The testing requirement may even be broadened, ministers mentioned, and can now embrace anybody coming into Canada from a overseas nation apart from the US. These travellers will have to be examined on arrival on the airport, isolate and wait, till their take a look at result’s identified earlier than exiting their isolation interval, Duclos mentioned.

The on-arrival take a look at, which shall be paid-for by the federal authorities, is along with the pre-departure take a look at earlier than arriving in Canada, mentioned Duclos.

The border measures will allow Canada extra time to raised perceive the brand new variant by way of its transmissibility, severity of sickness and impression on vaccine effectivity, mentioned Dr. Howard Njoo, Canada’s deputy chief public well being officer.

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“We don’t have these solutions but, however scientists world wide are working carefully to seek out these solutions,” he mentioned.

“So proper now these measures are simply to decelerate the propagation of the virus.”

Journey restrictions should not the one factor prime of thoughts for Canadian officers now that Omicron instances are cropping up throughout the nation. The Canadian authorities can also be asking Nationwide Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) to shortly present the newest directives on using boosters within the context of the brand new Omicron variant.

“This name that we’re making is to ask NACI to supply fast steering on whether or not we should always revise nationwide requirements, nationwide attitudes and actions on using boosters throughout Canada within the context of the brand new Omicron variant,” Duclos mentioned.

As of Tuesday, Canada had confirmed seven instances of the Omicron variant: 4 in Ontario and one every in Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia.

Omicron is the fifth and newest variant of concern designated by the World Well being Group (WHO)

This variant is extra closely mutated than the opposite variants of concern, containing greater than 30 mutations, which scientists concern may assist it unfold simply and even evade antibodies from prior an infection or vaccination.

The WHO has warned that the Omicron COVID-19 poses a “very excessive” threat of an infection surges that would have “extreme penalties” in some locations, although additional analysis was wanted to evaluate its potential impression.

— with information from Rachael D’Amore