Canada will conduct mandatory smear tests at more than 100 land crossings at the US border starting Monday, Ottawa said, as concerns about the spread of new coronavirus variants grow.
© Lars Hagberg
The US-Canadian border will remain closed until March 21
Travelers entering Canada at land borders, unless exempted, will have to take a self-smear test, said a statement from the Canadian Public Health Agency.
“This test can be taken at the traveller’s quarantine site or at a border control post.”
The border is currently closed to nearly all necessary travel, a policy that will last until March 21 after it was extended on Friday.
Travelers entering Canada, unless exempted, must undergo two Covid-19 tests, one on the first day of arrival and one later in their 14-day quarantine period.
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Starting Monday, air passengers arriving in Canada will have to undergo a three-day hotel quarantine at their own expense while waiting for the results of a coronavirus test.
Canadian media reported that the telephone reservation system for the government-approved hotels was seriously delayed on Saturday.
The country’s Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam on Friday underscored the danger that a growing number of coronavirus variants poses to Canadians, highlighting the need for continued vigilance in the face of the pandemic.
Canada has recorded more than 840,000 cases of Covid-19 on Saturday since the pandemic began, with more than 21,000 dead.
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