The Canadian government says it will not accept results of
molecular COVID tests done in Nigeria and nine other African countries.
The other affected countries are Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini,
Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Canada had, on November 30, banned travellers from the 10
countries over concerns about the spread of the Omicron COVID variant.
In the “quick facts” section of its travel advisory, the
country said Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and people with status
under the Indian Act who have been in the affected countries are allowed entry
into Canada.
It, however, added that they would be required to obtain
proof of a valid negative COVID test from a third country.
This implies that such travellers would need an in-transit
PCR test result for entry into Canada.
“Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and people with
status under the Indian Act who have been in these countries—Botswana, Egypt,
Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, and
Zimbabwe—in the 14 days before travel to Canada will be required to: Obtain,
within 72 hours of departure, a valid negative COVID-19 molecular test in a
third country before continuing their journey to Canada,” the statement reads.
Travellers from the aforementioned countries will also be
expected to “complete testing upon arrival to Canada, regardless of their
vaccination status or having had a previous history of testing positive for
COVID-19”.
They will also be “required to complete a test on Day 8
after arrival and quarantine for 14 days”, while “those arriving by air will be
required to stay in a designated quarantine facility while they await their
arrival test result”.
“They will be permitted onward travel once they have
received a negative arrival test result. Those arriving by land may be allowed
to proceed directly to their suitable quarantine location,” the statement
reads.
“If they do not have a suitable and robust quarantine
plan—where they will not have contact with anyone with whom they haven’t
travelled with—or do not have private transportation to their place of
quarantine, they will be directed to stay at a designated quarantine facility.
“There will be
increased scrutiny of quarantine plans for travellers from these countries and
rigorous monitoring to ensure travellers are complying with quarantine
measures.
“Further, PHAC is contacting travellers, regardless of their
vaccination status or having had a previous history of testing positive for
COVID-19, who have entered Canada from these countries in the past 14 days to
direct them to be tested and to quarantine while they wait for the results of
those tests.”
The new protocol came into effect on December 1.
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