Ontario’s top doctor says vaccinated residents should take advantage of the upcoming March Break.
Ahead of travel restrictions easing next week across Canada, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, said in a press conference on February 24 that the risk of international travel has continued to decrease throughout the year – and March Break is a great target for hopeful travellers.
“The federal government continues to advise Ontarians that there is an ongoing risk, but that risk can be mitigated by taking appropriate precautions,” said Moore. “By having been vaccinated, by testing upon return and by following masking and distancing in the environment that you’ll be travelling to.”
The federal government is set to ease travel restrictions on February 28, despite still listing the act of travelling to any country abroad as high-risk.
As of Monday, international flights will no longer be restricted to certain airports in the country, and all Canadian airports will be permitted to resume accepting flights from overseas.
Vaccinated travellers entering Canada will no longer have to take a pre-arrival PCR test, and can opt for a rapid antigen test to be taken no more than one day before their scheduled flight or arrival. The catch, however, is that the test must be administered by a lab or pharmacy – and not by yourself at home.
Currently, anyone entering Canada must show proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of their departing flight or planned arrival. Although, fully vaccinated travellers may still be randomly selected for a PCR test upon arrival, but you will no longer have to quarantine while waiting for the results.
Those who do not have two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will still be subject to mandatory PCR testing. As well, unvaccinated children under the age of 12 entering Canada with fully vaccinated parents will no longer have to avoid schools, daycares or other indoor public settings for 14 days.
“I think the risk is decreasing day-by-day,” adds Moore. “The risk has been decreasing week-by-week across North America. I encourage Ontarians that if they’ve taken advantage of immunization and they follow basic principles, to enjoy March Break the best they can.”
Moore says travellers should still complete a risk assessment of where they’re going and research the risk of contracting COVID-19 in that setting, to take any of your or your family’s underlying health conditions into consideration and consult with your healthcare provider ahead of time.
Residents are asked not to travel if they have any symptoms of COVID-19, are in isolation, are waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test or have been in close contact with a suspected or confirmed case.
Ottawa says if you start to feel COVID-19 symptoms after travelling, self-isolate for 10 days and follow local public health advice regarding seeking care or medical treatment.
This year’s March Break is scheduled for March 14 to March 18. 2020’s March Break marked the beginning of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, two years ago.