WASHINGTON – Ottawa plans to remove the requirement for negative COVID-19 test results for travelers who have been out of the country for less than 72 hours, the Star learned.
The revised policy will be presented in phases, first to Canadians, then to Americans, and finally to citizens of other countries, according to a source in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Speaking in Washington on Wednesday night, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stopped short of confirming the news, but said his administration was “looking to take steps to loosen requirements while keeping Canadians safe.” We will have an announcement to make in the next few days ”.
Trudeau spoke shortly after his meeting with members of the United States Congress, many of whom have asked him to ease the testing requirement.
Travelers arriving to Canada from abroad must currently show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours of arrival. The result should come from a polymerase chain reaction or PCR test, rather than the faster and less expensive rapid antigen tests that are much more widely available.
Congressman Brian Higgins, chairman of the US Congressional Northern Border Caucus, said he had been informed of the plan to relax the requirement to cross the border during a meeting with Trudeau that same day on Capitol Hill.
“I was encouraged by today’s meeting that testing requirements for vaccinated Americans will soon be addressed,” Higgins said in a written statement. “I hope this week’s discussions can produce a more cohesive political strategy between the US and Canada on this and other issues.”
The first phase of the COVID-19 testing policy change at the border is expected to be formally announced on Friday and take effect at the end of the month.
Trudeau is in Washington for a “three friends” summit Thursday with President Joe Biden and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador at the White House.
Trudeau’s priorities at the summit include fighting trade protectionism, and the issue of border testing has been a priority for some members of Congress whose support he will need if Canada wants to circumvent the proposed “Buy American Products” restrictions on subsidies. to automobiles.
The Canadian requirement for negative PCR test results for those taking short trips has been controversial, with critics claiming that the 72-hour window made them essentially meaningless.
They noted that it was possible for a Canadian to be tested before leaving for the United States and then return to Canada with a negative result that did not reflect any potential exposure to COVID-19 that the traveler may have had in the United States.
A co-chair of Canada’s advisory board on COVID-19 testing and detection was among those who recognized that such tests were of limited value.
“Even if we were to require tests from these travelers, a test done in Canada before the trip begins would not be helpful,” Dr. Irfan Dhalla told The Canadian Press.
Last week, Canada’s director of public health said her office “was actively studying” changing the requirement for the PCR test. “We’re looking at that quite carefully,” said Dr. Theresa Tam.
Reference-www.thestar.com