Transport Minister Omar Alghabra has announced that the government will pause all mandatory random SARS-CoV-2 tests at Canada’s airports for vaccinated travelers from Saturday (June 11) until the end of the month.
After that, mandatory rapid tests for incoming travelers will happen in the community. For now, unvaccinated travelers will still be tested at airports, but the government plans to move that testing off-site next month as well.
The Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable, made up of industry groups, blames recent havoc at Canadian airports on the COVID-19 surveillance measures imposed on passengers attempting to pass through customs.
The roundtable of travel groups, which includes Canada’s airports, has all but begged the government to lift randomized SARS-CoV-2 tests from airports before Wednesday (June 15), when travel season is expected to really take off.
The group still urges the government to do away with the test requirement altogether and lift all remaining COVID-19 restrictions—including vaccine mandates for passengers and staff.
While cabinet is responsible for mandating COVID-19 measures, Alghabra has recently said the politicians are “following the science” on the issue and receiving advice from public health experts.