Canada has opened up its borders to fully vaccinated foreign travellers. Are there risks? - CBC.ca | Canada News Media
Connect with us

News

Canada has opened up its borders to fully vaccinated foreign travellers. Are there risks? – CBC.ca

Published

3 years ago

 on


While the Canadian government has implemented strong measures to ensure fully vaccinated foreign travellers coming into Canada won’t be a significant source of COVID-19 spread, those protections will certainly not eliminate the risk, medical experts say.

“Certainly the optics aren’t ideal, as we are in a fourth wave and cases continue to climb across the country,” said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist and member of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine task force.

Under the measures, travellers must be fully vaccinated with a Canadian-approved vaccine at least 14 days prior to arriving and have received a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their scheduled flight or their arrival at a land border crossing — requirements that, while not perfect, are “very very good” at ensuring people coming don’t have COVID-19, Bogoch said.

“It’s not foolproof, it’s not a hermetically sealed border, we’ll still have cases of COVID introduced. It’s just going to be fewer than if we had no protection whatsoever,” he said.

On Tuesday, Canada opened its borders to fully vaccinated non-essential foreign travellers from across the globe, allowing them to skip the 14-day quarantine requirement. Canada is currently in the midst of a fourth wave of COVID-19 fuelled by the delta variant. However, most of the country’s cases and hospitalizations are among the unvaccinated.

Low test positivity rate at border

According to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the volume of travellers has increased in recent months, but the border test positivity rate for COVID-19 has remained low. For example, between Aug. 9 and 26, the positivity rate for fully vaccinated travellers randomly selected for testing at border crossings was 0.19 per cent (112 positive tests out of 58,878 completed), the CBSA said.

Still, Dr. Donald Vinh, an infectious diseases expert at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, expressed concern that the federal government formulated the open border policy for foreign travellers back in early July, when the delta variant wasn’t as much of an issue in Canada.

Dr. Donald Vinh, an infectious diseases expert at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, says Ottawa formulated the open border policy for foreign travellers in early July, when the delta variant wasn’t as much of an issue in Canada. (Submitted by Sandra Sciangula)

Vinh said that plan was based on the assumption that those fully vaccinated were not only protected from infection but would not be a major source of transmission. Instead, the delta variant has shown that fully vaccinated people can still be infected and still transmit the virus, he said.

Meanwhile, the full rate of breakthrough cases — those in which a person has been infected despite being fully vaccinated — is still unknown, he said.

“If we had no or low rates of community transmission right now, you could argue that our perhaps more relaxed approach could be acceptable,” Vinh said. “We already have high, high, high rates of transmission across the country. So now what we don’t want to do is be literally adding fuel to the fire.”

The government has introduced special requirements for travellers arriving from India or Morocco. Due to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, all direct passenger flights from India have been suspended until Sept. 21 and from Morocco until Sept. 29. Currently, air passengers from those countries can only enter Canada if they show proof of a negative test taken in a different country and depart from that country to come to Canada.

‘Viruses do cross borders’

Dr. Marek Smieja, scientific director of McMaster HealthLabs and a professor of pathology and molecular medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, suggested there should be some concern about the potential of imported variants. He noted that the alpha and delta variants were both imported into Canada from abroad.

“Viruses do cross borders. And the question is: What’s the most prudent way of allowing a reasonable amount of travel?” he said. “There’s no doubt there will be new variants.”

A technician administers the COVID-19 PCR test in Miami. Foreign travellers need a PCR test before coming into Canada. (Marta Lavandier/The Associated Press)

But the best protection is to eliminate the domestic cases, so if the local COVID-19 levels are very low, health officials will recognize new variants coming in, he said.

“The way you pay attention to imported diseases to get rid of local disease,” Smieja said.  “I would love to get to the point with COVID where the only cases you see are imported outbreaks.”

The federal government’s measures, in terms of what’s practical, are a “pretty reasonable reassurance” that foreign travellers will be a very low risk, he said.

In terms of potential exposure to COVID, a foreign traveller who’s fully vaccinated and tested coming into Canada is likely safer than those many people encounter on a daily basis, Smieja said.

Neighbour poses higher risk

“I would argue that the neighbour in the supermarket who isn’t wearing their mask properly above their nose and actually hasn’t been vaccinated is a higher risk than the person crossing a border,” Smieja said. “I actually think it is a prudent thing to be making it easier for people to travel, particularly for those who are fully vaccinated.”

Dr. Zain Chagla, an infectious diseases physician at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and an associate professor at McMaster University, agreed that it’s more important to focus on the pandemic’s domestic situation.

WATCH | Travel protections to Canada are strong but not perfect, says specialist: 

International travel protections to Canada are strong but not perfect, says specialist

There are strong layers of protection to stop the transmission of COVID-19 from international travellers entering Canada, but the country should also focus on getting more vulnerable Canadians vaccinated, says Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist in Toronto. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press) 1:32

With foreign travellers, he said, there’s always going to be a risk, and some breakthrough cases, but the government has come up with a good compromise.

“The bottom line is we are going to have to do this at some point in time, and there will be another variant. The world is not completely immunized by any means,” Chagla said.

“We’re taking a calculated risk, we’re following data … to see that, yes, no cases are being generated in Canada or not very many are being generated in Canada as a result of this [foreign traveller policy].”

Adblock test (Why?)



Source link

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

News

Trump attends UFC championship fight in New York, taking a break from Cabinet picks

Published

12 hours ago

 on

November 16, 2024

By

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump walked out to a roaring standing ovation just ahead of the start of the UFC pay-per-view card at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, combining two things close to his heart: fierce battles inside the octagon and New York City.

Trump was accompanied by UFC President Dana White and the pair headed to their cageside seats to Kid Rock’s “American Bad Ass.”

UFC aired a video package of Trump’s road to reclaiming the White House, calling it, “The great comeback in American History,” while fans stood and applauded. Trump, wearing a red tie, pumped his fist toward the crowd when the video ended.

The president-elect also had his clenched fists pumping back and forth and briefly danced to the Village People’s “YMCA” just outside the cage. He later again thrust his fist skyward as “Takin’ Care of Business” played.

Elon Musk, picked by Trump to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., joined the president-elect and White at the Garden, as did Robert Kennedy Jr., Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services in his incoming administration.

Trump shook hands with the UFC broadcast team that included Joe Rogan. Rogan hosted Trump on his podcast for hours in the final stages of the campaign ahead of his election win last week. The announcers for the pay-per-view audience later declared, “Festive doesn’t even begin to describe” the scene before later proclaiming, “47’s in the building. Let’s go.”

The MSG crowd chanted “USA! USA!” right before the main card was about to start and then again throughout the action. After a year delay, Stipe Miocic is getting his shot at a third heavyweight championship reign when he battles current champion Jon Jones in the main event at UFC 309.

Trump is a longtime UFC enthusiast and frequent attendee of major fights. He made promoting hypermasculine tones a signature of his campaign — as he looked to further widen the gap among male voters between himself and his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump and his top supporters embraced alpha-male terms and often accentuated them with vulgar and demeaning language.

While campaigning, Trump appeared frequently on podcasts, gaming platforms, and with key supporters who described a vote for Trump as a way to demonstrate true manliness. While Trump taped a podcast with Rogan, who himself has spoken about hypermasculinity, Harris failed to do a similar appearance, citing scheduling conflicts.

A return to Madison Square Garden means revisiting the place where a comedian caused an uproar at a Trump rally last month by likening Puerto Rico to a “floating island of garbage.” Yet Trump continues to relish visits to New York, where he lived for decades, before moving to his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump’s son, Don Jr., also attended the fight.

Except for a day trip to Washington this week to meet for nearly two hours with President Joe Biden, and separately address House Republicans, Trump has been spending his time since his Election Day victory at Mar-a-Lago. The club has hosted galas and conservative events throughout the week.

Trump has been close to White for more than two decades.

White hosted a 2001 UFC battle at Trump Taj Mahal, a former casino-hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Trump has frequently attended UFC matches since – including during his 2024 campaign. Trump has turned up at fights recently with famous entourages, including White, musician Kid Rock and former Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson.

In 2018, during Trump’s first term, he and White starred in a UFC video where the then-president was called the “Combatant In Chief.”

As Trump has strengthened his grip on the national Republican Party over the last near-decade, White’s personal political profile has grown exponentially. White spoke at the 2016 and 2020 Republican conventions, and when the party gathered in Milwaukee this past July. He also addressed the crowd at Trump’s Florida victory party in the wee hours of the morning after Election Day.

“This is what happens when the machine comes after you,” White said then. “What you’ve seen over the last several years, this is what it looks like: couldn’t stop him. He keeps going forward. He doesn’t quit.”

_____

Weissert reported from Palm Beach, Florida.



Source link

Continue Reading

News

Spencer Martin notches 1st career shutout as Hurricanes put 4 past Senators

Published

13 hours ago

 on

November 16, 2024

By

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Carolina’s Spencer Martin recorded his first career shutout and made 24 saves as the Hurricanes beat the Ottawa Senators 4-0 on Saturday night.

Martin, in just his second start of the season and his first home appearance, made 11 of his saves in the third period.

Jordan Martinook, Sebastian Aho, rookie Jackson Blake and William Carrier scored goals. Shayne Gostisbehere and Jordan Staal each provided two assists, and Martin Necas notched an assist to push his career-best points streak to 12 games.

Ottawa was blanked for the first time this season, and Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg also stopped 24 shots.

Martinook scored his sixth goal in his last six games eight minutes into the first period. Aho’s first goal in eight games came eight seconds into a power play in the final minute of the second period.

Blake’s power-play goal 43 seconds into the third period made it 3-0, and Carrier scored an empty-netter.

Takeaways

Senators: A three-game points streak ended in part because Ottawa faltered on special teams after not allowing a power-play goal in its previous four games. It went 0 for 4 on power plays.

Hurricanes: Carolina hasn’t lost consecutive games this season, returning from a three-game swing to the Western Conference to win its sixth consecutive home game.

Key moment

The Hurricanes had gone 1 for 13 on power plays across three games before converting twice in 85 seconds of game time.

Key stat

Martin became the third Carolina goaltender to notch a victory this season.

Up next

The Hurricanes host the St. Louis Blues Sunday, while the Senators begin a four-game homestand Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers.

___

AP NHL:

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



Source link

Continue Reading

News

Mitch Marner scores in overtime as Maple Leafs down Oilers 4-3

Published

13 hours ago

 on

November 16, 2024

By

TORONTO – Mitch Marner scored 40 seconds into overtime as the Toronto Maple Leafs downed the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 on Saturday night.

Bobby McMann, with two, and Matthew Knies had the other goals for Toronto (11-6-2). Anthony Stolarz made 27 saves. Marner added an assist for a two-point night.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, with a goal and an assist each, and Adam Henrique replied for Edmonton (9-7-2), which saw its three-game winning streak snapped. Stuart Skinner stopped 18 shots.

The Oilers lost defenceman Darnell Nurse after he took a hit to the head from Leafs winger Ryan Reaves in the second period.

With Toronto down 2-1 in the third, Knies and McMann scored 59 seconds apart to give Toronto a 3-2 lead before Draisaitl tied things with 1:29 left in regulation and Skinner on the bench for an extra attacker. Marner ended it in the extra period on a 2-on-1 with John Tavares.

McDavid became the fourth-fastest player in NHL history — behind only Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy — to reach 1,000 career points Thursday at home against the Nashville Predators.

Takeaways

Leafs: Toronto captain Auston Matthews missed a sixth straight game with an undisclosed upper-body injury. The star centre, who remains listed as day-to-day, hasn’t played since Nov. 3.

Oilers: Edmonton head coach Kris Knoblauch dressed 11 forwards and seven defenceman with winger Viktor Arvidsson out injured for a second consecutive game.

Key moment

Nurse wheeled around Edmonton’s net early in the second before getting caught up high by Reaves. The blueliner was left bloodied and had to be helped to the locker room. Reaves was assessed a five-minute match penalty and booted from the game.

Key stat

Leafs forward Max Domi has now gone 13 games without registering a point. The 29-year-old has no goals and six assists this season.

Up next

Edmonton continues a three-game road trip Monday against the Montreal Canadiens. Toronto hosts the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday in the second of three straight contests at Scotiabank Arena.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2024.

___

Follow @JClipperton_CP on X.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending

Exit mobile version