Also, masks will no longer be obligatory on breakouts or trains within Canada. PHAC says the junking of travel restrictions is due to Canada’s high vaccination rates, lower hospitalization and death rates, as well as the availability and use of vaccine boosters. The government still explosively recommends that trippers continue to wear masks and cover their health nearly.

“Thanks largely to Canadians who have rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated, we’ve reached the point where we can safely lift the aseptic measures at the border,” says Health Minister Jean- Yves Duclos. “Still, we anticipate COVID- 19 and other respiratory contagions will continue to circulate over the cold months, so I encourage everyone to stay over- to-date with their COVID- 19 vaccination, including booster doses, and exercise individual public health measures.

ArriveCan To Become Optional

The ArriveCan app will become optional for travelers arriving from abroad. Travelers will no longer need to upload their travel plans and proof of vaccination onto the app to show CBSA agents.

No Requirements For Domestic Travel

This announcement was expected in response to the global outlook on the COVID-19 pandemic. Cases have been seeing a decline as more people become vaccinated and the virus moves towards being endemic, like the common cold, rather than a pandemic.

Canada has already suspended the vaccination requirements for domestic and outbound travel as of last June. At the time, government officials said the suspension of those vaccine mandates was a reflection of the improved public health situation, with 90% of Canadians already vaccinated against COVID-19.

Globally, there have been over 612 million recorded cases of COVID-19 and over six million deaths since the pandemic’s start. These numbers are likely higher as many people are not tested or diagnosed.