Trudeau has cautioned Canadians against non-essential travel for months amid rising coronavirus cases and new variants that have emerged from the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil.
“With the challenges we currently face with COVID-19, both here at home and abroad, we all agree that now is just not the time to be flying,” Trudeau said.
“By putting in place these tough measures now, we can look forward to a better time, when we can all plan those vacations.”
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The move on restricting travel comes more than a year after the first case of COVID-19 was first discovered in Canada. Despite the restrictions and warnings, Canadians, including dozens of politicians, have continued to make trips abroad.
2:21 More politicians, bureaucrats exposed for holiday travel
More politicians, bureaucrats exposed for holiday travel – Jan 6, 2021
‘It was crazy busy in Cancun’
Ana Marshall, who lives in Toronto, said because it’s just a recommendation not to travel and not a full ban, she recently vacationed in Cancun, Mexico during the holidays with her family.
“I go about once a year to Mexico. I thought a lot about whether I should go this year, I had reservations … but checked the coronavirus numbers before I left and the infection rate was not high,” she said.
But once she arrived in Cancun, she said she had second thoughts.
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“It was crazy busy in Cancun, the airport was full … the hotel was full. There weren’t a lot of Canadians at the hotel, but a lot of Americans. I started to think it was a big mistake,” Marshall said.
Despite the crowds, she wanted to still make the most of it. Her family tried to be as safe as possible, they kept their distance from others and were able to enjoy the sunshine at the beach, she said.
“But no one was wearing a mask. There were so many people in the hotel pool. At some point, I thought, ‘this is crazy’, as no one knew each other but everyone was gathering around and giving each other cheers with their drinks and dancing. There was no social distancing.”
Marshall said they flew back to Canada before the government implemented mandatory testing.
As of Jan. 7, Canadians need to have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their scheduled departure and must show the results to their airline before they board their flight.
5:04 What travellers need to know about pre-flight COVID-19 testing
What travellers need to know about pre-flight COVID-19 testing – Jan 21, 2021
Her family did the mandatory 14-day quarantine when they got back and she said her daughter needed to take a COVID-19 test in order to go back to work. It came back negative.
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“I do feel guilty about going, but we were very careful and tried to be safe the whole time,” she said.
Marshall plans on going to see her family in Chile in the next few months but said if Trudeau imposes harsher travel restriction she’ll cancel her plans and stay home.
Currently, the right to freedom of movement is sanctioned in Section 6 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which reads: “Every citizen of Canada has the right to enter, remain in and leave Canada.”
So vacationing in Mexico may be frowned upon, but it’s not illegal.
“For Canadians, we have a charter right to enter and leave Canada and also to move around from province to province to live and work,” University of Ottawa law professor Martha Jackman told Global News on Jan. 7.
“Any restrictions that are imposed on that mobility is subject to charter review and would have to be justified as a reasonable limit on Canadians’ charter rights.”
Colin Furness, an infection control epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of Toronto, argued that just because travelling is not banned, does not mean Canadians should do it.
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“There are direct and indirect health risks involved,” Furness said. “The world is very dangerous right now, and there are other variants we don’t know much about.”
But he argued that countries such as Mexico may not have the testing capacity, meaning there could be dangerous variants of the coronavirus there that we don’t know about yet.
“It’s like walking into a dark room with knives in it. It’s a terrible idea, and an extremely foolish thing to do.”
Not only are people who travel endangering their own lives, he said, but also others around them.
“Every time a plane lands in Toronto, we are increasing the chance of spreading the virus to people who do not have the ability to protect themselves,” he said.
A Canadian stuck abroad
Canadian Jennifer Johnson, 39, is currently in Dubai with her husband and 12-year-old son.
However, unlike other Canadians who decided to travel during COVID-19, Johnson was already half-way across the world when the pandemic hit. She’s been living out of a suitcase for more than a year.
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In September 2019, her husband, who works in oil and gas, was offered a contract in Turkmenistan. They sold their house in Halifax, but because of visa complications, Johnson and her son weren’t able to join her husband in Turkmenistan. So they decided to travel the world instead.
2:16 Calgary couple stuck in Barbados pleading with Canadian government to get their sick child home
Calgary couple stuck in Barbados pleading with Canadian government to get their sick child home – Sep 25, 2020
“We were in India when coronavirus was still only in China. I remember thinking I should probably get somewhere comfortable. So on March 12, we boarded a flight to Sri Lanka. We were one of the last ones to get into Sri Lanka before it closed its borders,” Johnson said.
And when they arrived the country went into full lockdown.
“It was a severe lockdown, we could not leave our house and no one was even allowed on the highway,” she said.
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However, in July restrictions started to slowly loosen, and she said she and her son were eventually able to go out and travel the country a bit more.
In August, Johnson’s Sri Lankan visa was set to expire so she had to find another place to live. She still was not able to see her husband but wanted to be close by the country.
“We needed to find a country that was affordable and a country that also was open to travellers, so we (temporarily) moved to Turkey,” she said.
After a few months, she said she was able to reunite with her husband and when their visa ran out in Turkey, on Jan. 8, they decided to head to Dubai.
Although she plans on staying there for a few months more, she said her family in Canada has voiced concern for her safety.
“My family is all in Quebec, and if I wanted to go home, they would be fine with me staying there … but I don’t want to go back to Canada. There’s just so much to see.”
‘I never felt unsafe’
Despite testing and quarantine rules, it seems some Canadians are still eager to travel abroad.
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Danielle, a 30-year-old woman living just outside of Toronto recently returned from a trip to the Bahamas and told Global News of plans to also travel to the U.S.
Global News did not publish Danielle’s last name on a request to maintain anonymity.
4:24 Trudeau stresses ‘no one should be vacationing abroad’ during pandemic, sickness benefit not for travellers
Trudeau stresses ‘no one should be vacationing abroad’ during pandemic, sickness benefit not for travellers – Jan 5, 2021
“I kept getting invited by my American friends to go on trips, but it was in the summer and I didn’t know if it was safe yet, so decided to wait and see,” she said.
But after weighing her options for a few months, Danielle said she decided to go to Cabo and the Bahamas during the holidays with some friends.
“I am young, healthy and I felt OK doing it because we were staying in a house and not a resort,” she said. “I never felt unsafe.”
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Next on her list was heading to Florida to see some friends.
“It doesn’t fully bother me because I’m not scared of COVID myself … but with respect to the elderly, I would not come home and go straight to see my grandmother.”
— With files from Global News’ Erica Alini and Saba Aziz
MILAN (AP) — Bologna’s preparations for its Champions League debut are not going well though it managed to spoil Como’s first Serie A home match in 21 years on Saturday.
Bologna came from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw to gather three points from its opening four matches.
Bologna hosts Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. Its only other appearance in Europe’s top competition was in 1964 in the preliminary round of the old European Cup.
AC Milan is also winless as it prepares for a Tuesday Champions League match against Liverpool. The Rossoneri hosted promoted Venezia later. Juventus drew at Empoli 0-0.
Como made a great start in the fifth minute when Patrick Cutrone attempted to roll the ball across the six-yard box but it took a huge deflection off Bologna defender Nicolò Casale for an own goal.
Bologna thought it was gifted a way back into the match on the stroke of halftime when referee Marco Piccinini signalled for a penalty following an Alberto Moreno handball, but he revoked his decision and instead gave a free kick because the handball was just outside the area.
Bologna improved after the break but found itself further behind when Cutrone raced onto a through ball and cut inside past a defender and fired into the far bottom corner.
Tommaso Pobega hit the post for Bologna, which finally pulled one back in the 76th through substitute Santiago Castro.
Another substitute helped the visitors snatch a point when Samuel Iling-Junior curled a fine strike into the top left corner in stoppage time.
Unbeaten sides
Juventus, and more surprisingly Empoli, are among six unbeaten sides.
Empoli held Monza and Bologna to draws either side of a shock 2-1 win at Roma. Juventus’ perfect start to the season was ruined by Roma in a goalless draw before the international break.
On Saturday, there were few clearcut chances in Empoli although home goalkeeper Devis Vásquez made spectacular saves to fingertip out a Federico Gatti header and deny Dusan Vlahovic in a one on one with the Juventus forward.
Empoli had a good opportunity in the 73rd minute following an Alberto Grassi one-two with Pietro Pellegri but the finish was straight at Mattia Perin.
The host could have won it right at the death but Gatti flew in with a great sliding block to keep out Emanuel Gyasi’s close-range effort.
Juventus hosts PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday.
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Not good enough. That was Arne Slot’s verdict after his first defeat as Liverpool manager on Saturday.
A shock 1-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League ended Slot’s perfect record since succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Anfield at the end of last season.
“We had a lot of ball possession but only managed to create three (or) four quite good chances, so that is by far not enough if you have so much ball possession,” said the Dutchman, who suggested his team should not be losing to the likes of Forest.
“If you lose a home game it’s always a setback, especially if you face a team … we never know, maybe they will go all the way to fight for Champions League tickets, but normally this team is not ending up in the top 10, so if you lose a game against them that’s a big disappointment.”
Slot won his first three games in charge, including a memorable 3-0 victory against Manchester United before the international break.
But that run came to an end after Callum Hudson-Odoi struck in the 72nd with a curling effort from the edge of the box and beyond goalkeeper Alisson.
Liverpool’s defeat leaves Manchester City as the only team with a 100% record in the league after a 2-1 win against Brentford kept the defending champion at the top of the table.
United won at Southampton 3-0 to end its two-game losing streak.
Unstoppable Haaland
Erling Haaland moved to 99 goals for City after scoring twice against Brentford.
The Norwegian’s double came after Yoane Wissa fired Brentford ahead with just 22 seconds on the clock.
Haaland scored his 98th and 99th goals in his 103rd City appearance in all competitions. And he was the width of the post away from his third consecutive hat trick after trebles against Ipswich and West Ham.
“He’s been really, really good. Yeah, I would say he’s the best (he’s been), but it’s only four fixtures (this season),” City manager Pep Guardiola said.
Haaland, who has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or, has nine goals in four league games. He has topped the league scoring charts in each of his two seasons at City since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 for $63 million.
Haaland’s first goal after 19 minutes evened the game following Wissa’s opener, which stunned the Etihad Stadium crowd. Haaland turned and swept a shot past goalkeeper Mark Flekken after a slight deflection off Ethan Pinnock.
He was then too strong for Pinnock when shaking off the defender and running through for his second in the 32nd.
He was inches away in the 81st; the shot came back off the post after beating the keeper.
Rashford snaps run
Marcus Rashford snapped a 12-game barren run in front of goal as United beat Southampton.
Rashford doubled United’s lead at Saint Mary’s after Matthijs de Ligt’s scored his first for the club. Substitute Alejandro Garnacho scored a third in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
The win came after back-to-back defeats for United.
Rashford hadn’t scored since March in United’s win over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarterfinals. He curled in a shot from the edge of the area to put Erik ten Hag’s team 2-0 up at Southampton in the 41st minute.
Ten Hag said it could be a turning point for the forward.
“For every striker, they want to be on the scoring list. Once the first is in, more is coming. Like a ketchup bottle, once it’s going, it’s coming more,” he said.
De Ligt, who joined United from Bayern Munich in the offseason, headed in from Bruno Fernandes’ cross in the 35th.
It could have been a different story if Cameron Archer converted a penalty for Southampton in the 33rd. Instead, his effort was saved by goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Newly promoted Southampton was reduced to 10 men when Jack Stephens was sent off in the 79th for a high challenge on Garnacho.
Villa comeback
After three straight defeats to start the league, Everton looked set for its first win when leading Aston Villa 2-0.
Goals from Dwight McNeil and Dominic Calvert-Lewin put Sean Dyche’s team in control until Ollie Watkins struck twice to even the game.
Jhon Duran completed Villa’s comeback and sealed a 3-2 win in the 76th to leave Everton rooted to the bottom of the table and the only top flight team without a point.
Late drama
Jean-Philippe Mateta converted a stoppage time penalty to salvage a 2-2 draw for Crystal Palace against Leicester.
Leicester led 2-0 at Selhurst Park after goals from Jamie Vardy and Stephy Mavididi.
But Mateta sparked Palace’s response with a goal in the 47th, a minute after Mavididi doubled Leicester’s advantage.
Conor Coady fouled Ismaili Sarr in the box right near fulltime and Mateta was cool enough to convert.
West Ham left it even later to salvage a point in a 1-1 draw at Fulham.
Danny Ings struck in the fifth minute of added time after Raul Jimenez’s goal looked like earning Fulham the win.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, the manager of the month for August, was frustrated as his team was held to 0-0 at home by Ipswich.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Restricted free agent forward Isaac Okoro has agreed to re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers on a three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Saturday.
Okoro’s new deal is worth $38 million, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been signed or announced by the team.
ESPN.com first reported the agreement, citing Okoro’s representation.
The fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, Okoro is Cleveland’s best perimeter defender, often drawing the assignment of guarding the opponent’s top scorer. Okoro also has worked to improve his offensive game.
The 23-year-old averaged 9.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 69 games — 42 starts — last season for the Cavs, who beat Orlando in the opening round of the playoffs before losing to eventual champion Boston.
Okoro shot a career-best 39% on 3-pointers, forcing teams to come out and guard him.
His agreement caps an extraordinarily busy summer for the Cavs that began with coach J.B. Bickerstaff being fired and replaced by Kenny Atkinson. All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell signed a three-year, $150 million extension in July, ending months of speculation that he wanted out of Cleveland.
Also, power forward Evan Mobley signed a five-year, $224 deal and center Jarrett Allen signed a three-year, $91 million extension.
