Canada To Ease Restrictions For Vaccinated Travelers

Canada will ease entry for fully vaccinated international travelers starting on Feb. 28 as COVID-19 cases decline.

The new policy will allow a rapid antigen test for travelers instead of a molecular one, officials said on Tuesday.

Antigen tests are cheaper than a molecular test and can provide results within minutes.

The new measures, which include random testing for vaccinated travelers entering Canada, were announced by federal government ministers at a briefing.

Canada will monitor conditions on coronavirus testing requirements for fully vaccinated Canadians who make short trips abroad, usually to the United States, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said.

About 80 percent of Canadians are fully vaccinated and over 40 percent have also taken a booster dose, according to the health ministry. The global travel advisory for Canadians is also being changed. Previously the government recommended against all non-essential travel and now it is only urging citizens to take precautions.