Arrival testing mandated again
Dec 16th 2021, 9:17 pm
#61
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 817
Re: Arrival testing mandated again
At this point anecdotally other then the renewed travel advisory and increased arrival testing we aren't seeing any new restrictions. The proposed restrictions of 100% arrival testing aren't even in play, it is still randomized and it is also random whether people are being told to quarantine.
I'll keep the thread updated with new info as/when it comes out.
The thing is also that the cost of the vaccine is negligible compared to everything else, the cost testing or PCR tests, upon arrival higher and a 14 day quarantine is also economically devastating.
Today I received an e-mail from some Canadians overseas website
Dear Canadian,
You are receiving this email because you are registered with the Government of Canada’s Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) service.
In an attempt to limit the spread of (COVID-19), specifically the new Omicron variant, the Government of Canada has re-instated a Global Travel Advisory to avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada until further notice..
- Find out what commercial options are still available to return to Canada. Consider returning to Canada earlier than planned if these options are becoming more limited.
- Ensure that you have sufficient finances and necessities, including medication, in case your travels are disrupted.
Most governments have implemented special entry and exit restrictions for their territory. Before travelling, verify if the local authorities of both your current location and destinations have implemented any specific restrictions related to this situation and consider your transit points.
Restrictions imposed could include:
- Entry bans, particularly for non-residents
- Exit bans
- Quarantines of 14 days or more upon arrival, regardless of where you are arriving from
- Health screenings
- Border closures
- Airport closures
- Flight suspensions
Additional restrictions can be imposed suddenly. You should not depend on the Government of Canada for assistance related to changes to your travel plans.
- Monitor the media for the latest information
- Contact your airline or tour operator to determine if the situation will disrupt your travel plans
- Contact the nearest foreign diplomatic office for information on destination-specific restrictions
Continue to consult the latest travel advice and entry requirements related to COVID-19 from the Government of Canada.
The Public Health Agency of Canada is closely monitoring the situation and Global Affairs Canada will provide updates as more information becomes available. Canadians should follow the advice of local health authorities and take precautions to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including frequent handwashing, practicing proper cough and sneeze etiquette, and monitoring your health.
The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. The Government of Canada takes the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously. It provides credible and timely information in its Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel or stay abroad.
All travellers whose final destination is Canada are required to submit their information electronically through ArriveCAN before they board their flight.
Canadians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact their nearest Canadian office or contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa directly at +1 613 996 8885 (collect calls are accepted where available). An e-mail can also be sent to [email protected].
For complete contact details of our Canadian offices abroad, please click here.
If you have completed your trip and have no intention to return in the near future, simply modify your file here or you may send an email to [email protected].
We encourage you to stay connected with the latest travel advice and advisories at www.travel.gc.ca. Please share this important information with other Canadians in your area.
Global Affairs Canada.
Last edited by OrangeMango; Dec 16th 2021 at 9:21 pm.
Dec 16th 2021, 10:33 pm
#62
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2013
Location: SW Ontario, Canada
Posts: 6,960
Re: Arrival testing mandated again
'Travel' is a very far reaching matter. To me, it is one of the joys of life and I enjoy it greatly. New places, new environments, new food, new people and to just wipe it away saying the 'dream of travel should be ended' is very draconian.
Where do you draw the line between a trip to a new place for things such as walking, hiking, museums, new food versus a week long drink and drugs bender I could be anywhere trip to Magaluf/Cancun/Dayton/Ibiza. Is one acceptable and the other not.
Since March 2020, I haven't been past Toronto or Montreal or Algonquin Park. I managed to not be in the USA in the Trump era but did travel to the UK, Alberta/BC, France and Italy in that time. Since March 2020 none of that but once the numbers are down in terms of Covid etc I can't wait to travel again. We have the money and for us it is money well spent. Many long standing memories for myself, my wife and our immediate families are based on travel.
Where do you draw the line between a trip to a new place for things such as walking, hiking, museums, new food versus a week long drink and drugs bender I could be anywhere trip to Magaluf/Cancun/Dayton/Ibiza. Is one acceptable and the other not.
Since March 2020, I haven't been past Toronto or Montreal or Algonquin Park. I managed to not be in the USA in the Trump era but did travel to the UK, Alberta/BC, France and Italy in that time. Since March 2020 none of that but once the numbers are down in terms of Covid etc I can't wait to travel again. We have the money and for us it is money well spent. Many long standing memories for myself, my wife and our immediate families are based on travel.
Dec 16th 2021, 11:41 pm
#63
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Joined: Feb 2013
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,874
Re: Arrival testing mandated again
'Travel' is a very far reaching matter. To me, it is one of the joys of life and I enjoy it greatly. New places, new environments, new food, new people and to just wipe it away saying the 'dream of travel should be ended' is very draconian.
Where do you draw the line between a trip to a new place for things such as walking, hiking, museums, new food versus a week long drink and drugs bender I could be anywhere trip to Magaluf/Cancun/Dayton/Ibiza. Is one acceptable and the other not.
Since March 2020, I haven't been past Toronto or Montreal or Algonquin Park. I managed to not be in the USA in the Trump era but did travel to the UK, Alberta/BC, France and Italy in that time. Since March 2020 none of that but once the numbers are down in terms of Covid etc I can't wait to travel again. We have the money and for us it is money well spent. Many long standing memories for myself, my wife and our immediate families are based on travel.
Where do you draw the line between a trip to a new place for things such as walking, hiking, museums, new food versus a week long drink and drugs bender I could be anywhere trip to Magaluf/Cancun/Dayton/Ibiza. Is one acceptable and the other not.
Since March 2020, I haven't been past Toronto or Montreal or Algonquin Park. I managed to not be in the USA in the Trump era but did travel to the UK, Alberta/BC, France and Italy in that time. Since March 2020 none of that but once the numbers are down in terms of Covid etc I can't wait to travel again. We have the money and for us it is money well spent. Many long standing memories for myself, my wife and our immediate families are based on travel.
But unlike Gozit, I think this is a good post for what was said BEFORE the last 2 sentences.
I fully support the idea of travel, we also have the money to go wherever we want, and many many wonderful memories of trips all over the world, and consider it well spent as well as time well spent.
BUT not since 2019.
and never to the US in the Trump era!
We actually have not been outside the Lower Mainland since we got home in January 2019. Not because of lack of money, but because it has seemed to be idiotic to put ourselves and others in danger.
Once we can travel safely, and without the risk of having to quarantine on our return home or get stuck elsewhere, then roll on the travel, the meals, the events, etc.
Dec 17th 2021, 5:48 pm
#64
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 817
Re: Arrival testing mandated again
The thing is, you can travel safely.
Politicians want us not to travel, and for non compliance they have all sorts of nasty ideas in mind, costly testing, 14 day quarantine or 500 K plus fines for non-compliance. However that's totally the wrong approach and it certainly won't stop the pandemic, or decrease infections and makes a mockery of those who've taken the jab exactly for the reason to roam around freely again.
A look at the vaccination tracker for Canada would give you an idea of the problem:
https://globalnews.ca/news/7583050/c...avirus-canada/
ON and QC with a meager 80% vaccination rate and AB and SK even less, in the mid 70ies.
Regarding Covid 19 infection cases, ICU beds are to over 90% occupied with unvaccinated patients one can easily do his / her own calculations how many will end up in hospital. ( the rest of th 10% with a Covid 19 infection who are vaccinated and need an ICU bed do have some kind of previous medical history )
Why should the vaccinated Canadians pay for that cost, plus deal with all these ridiculous travel-restrictions, and then there is the cost to the economy, factoring in all the cost for not being open?
Politicians should rather look at their own failure, like why isn't the vaccination rate in Canada close to 100%? Why are some still refusing the vaccine at a cost to others?
At, say 98% or 99%, or 100% at best, we all couldn't care less about Covid 19 and really declare the pandemic as over.
Politicians want us not to travel, and for non compliance they have all sorts of nasty ideas in mind, costly testing, 14 day quarantine or 500 K plus fines for non-compliance. However that's totally the wrong approach and it certainly won't stop the pandemic, or decrease infections and makes a mockery of those who've taken the jab exactly for the reason to roam around freely again.
A look at the vaccination tracker for Canada would give you an idea of the problem:
https://globalnews.ca/news/7583050/c...avirus-canada/
ON and QC with a meager 80% vaccination rate and AB and SK even less, in the mid 70ies.
Regarding Covid 19 infection cases, ICU beds are to over 90% occupied with unvaccinated patients one can easily do his / her own calculations how many will end up in hospital. ( the rest of th 10% with a Covid 19 infection who are vaccinated and need an ICU bed do have some kind of previous medical history )
Why should the vaccinated Canadians pay for that cost, plus deal with all these ridiculous travel-restrictions, and then there is the cost to the economy, factoring in all the cost for not being open?
Politicians should rather look at their own failure, like why isn't the vaccination rate in Canada close to 100%? Why are some still refusing the vaccine at a cost to others?
At, say 98% or 99%, or 100% at best, we all couldn't care less about Covid 19 and really declare the pandemic as over.
Last edited by OrangeMango; Dec 17th 2021 at 5:56 pm.
Dec 17th 2021, 6:09 pm
#65
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2013
Location: SW Ontario, Canada
Posts: 6,960
Re: Arrival testing mandated again
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/omi...ghts-1.6289497
Make it make sense, somebody please.
So now we are loosening restrictions on africa (good as I don't support Q Hotel or Q at all) ... but now people who cross the land border will need to pay $$$$$$ for a rapid PCR test to come back to Canada, even if only gone for 3-4 hours. How exactly is that going to stop this rise in infection?
Make it make sense, somebody please.
So now we are loosening restrictions on africa (good as I don't support Q Hotel or Q at all) ... but now people who cross the land border will need to pay $$$$$$ for a rapid PCR test to come back to Canada, even if only gone for 3-4 hours. How exactly is that going to stop this rise in infection?
Spoiler:
Dec 17th 2021, 11:44 pm
#66
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,874
Re: Arrival testing mandated again
The thing is, you can travel safely.
Politicians want us not to travel, and for non compliance they have all sorts of nasty ideas in mind, costly testing, 14 day quarantine or 500 K plus fines for non-compliance. However that's totally the wrong approach and it certainly won't stop the pandemic, or decrease infections and makes a mockery of those who've taken the jab exactly for the reason to roam around freely again.
A look at the vaccination tracker for Canada would give you an idea of the problem:
https://globalnews.ca/news/7583050/c...avirus-canada/
ON and QC with a meager 80% vaccination rate and AB and SK even less, in the mid 70ies.
Regarding Covid 19 infection cases, ICU beds are to over 90% occupied with unvaccinated patients one can easily do his / her own calculations how many will end up in hospital. ( the rest of th 10% with a Covid 19 infection who are vaccinated and need an ICU bed do have some kind of previous medical history )
Why should the vaccinated Canadians pay for that cost, plus deal with all these ridiculous travel-restrictions, and then there is the cost to the economy, factoring in all the cost for not being open?
Politicians should rather look at their own failure, like why isn't the vaccination rate in Canada close to 100%? Why are some still refusing the vaccine at a cost to others?
At, say 98% or 99%, or 100% at best, we all couldn't care less about Covid 19 and really declare the pandemic as over.
Politicians want us not to travel, and for non compliance they have all sorts of nasty ideas in mind, costly testing, 14 day quarantine or 500 K plus fines for non-compliance. However that's totally the wrong approach and it certainly won't stop the pandemic, or decrease infections and makes a mockery of those who've taken the jab exactly for the reason to roam around freely again.
A look at the vaccination tracker for Canada would give you an idea of the problem:
https://globalnews.ca/news/7583050/c...avirus-canada/
ON and QC with a meager 80% vaccination rate and AB and SK even less, in the mid 70ies.
Regarding Covid 19 infection cases, ICU beds are to over 90% occupied with unvaccinated patients one can easily do his / her own calculations how many will end up in hospital. ( the rest of th 10% with a Covid 19 infection who are vaccinated and need an ICU bed do have some kind of previous medical history )
Why should the vaccinated Canadians pay for that cost, plus deal with all these ridiculous travel-restrictions, and then there is the cost to the economy, factoring in all the cost for not being open?
Politicians should rather look at their own failure, like why isn't the vaccination rate in Canada close to 100%? Why are some still refusing the vaccine at a cost to others?
At, say 98% or 99%, or 100% at best, we all couldn't care less about Covid 19 and really declare the pandemic as over.
We all make our own judgment as to whether we can travel safely, whether that is within our own province, across other provinces, or internationally.
If you are like me, I pay little attention to what the politicians say, I look at the scientific evidence.
That is far more accurate than any politico ............. and usually when the pollies say "don't travel", the science to say it would be very unwise to travel is way ahead of them.
You only have to look at Boris, Biden, Ford, and Trudeau, to see how they follow what their scientists have been saying for days.
Just a little bit of scientific knowledge, and understanding about how viruses work, is needed.
Covid is a corona virus, as is the common cold and flu ................ only much worse from infection rate to effects, just as flu is much worse than the common cold.
Ever think about why there is annual vaccination against flu, but not the common cold?
The flu virus a) mutates every year, and b) is a worse sickness than the common cold, possibly leading to death for elderly, very young and compromised.
Just as the covid virus and its variants are mutating regularly.
Hopefully, the variants will become weaker in effects, and the scientists will able to produce new vaccines to respond to the new variants, so that we can have annual covid vaccination as well as flu.
Until then ................... listen to the scientists, and NOT those on social media, but learn to read scientific reports and papers, even if you just skim them.
Dec 18th 2021, 1:14 pm
#67
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 817
Re: Arrival testing mandated again
We all make our own judgment as to whether we can travel safely, whether that is within our own province, across other provinces, or internationally.
If you are like me, I pay little attention to what the politicians say, I look at the scientific evidence.
That is far more accurate than any politico ............. and usually when the pollies say "don't travel", the science to say it would be very unwise to travel is way ahead of them.
You only have to look at Boris, Biden, Ford, and Trudeau, to see how they follow what their scientists have been saying for days.
Just a little bit of scientific knowledge, and understanding about how viruses work, is needed.
Covid is a corona virus, as is the common cold and flu ................ only much worse from infection rate to effects, just as flu is much worse than the common cold.
Ever think about why there is annual vaccination against flu, but not the common cold?
The flu virus a) mutates every year, and b) is a worse sickness than the common cold, possibly leading to death for elderly, very young and compromised.
Just as the covid virus and its variants are mutating regularly.
Hopefully, the variants will become weaker in effects, and the scientists will able to produce new vaccines to respond to the new variants, so that we can have annual covid vaccination as well as flu.
Until then ................... listen to the scientists, and NOT those on social media, but learn to read scientific reports and papers, even if you just skim them.
If you are like me, I pay little attention to what the politicians say, I look at the scientific evidence.
That is far more accurate than any politico ............. and usually when the pollies say "don't travel", the science to say it would be very unwise to travel is way ahead of them.
You only have to look at Boris, Biden, Ford, and Trudeau, to see how they follow what their scientists have been saying for days.
Just a little bit of scientific knowledge, and understanding about how viruses work, is needed.
Covid is a corona virus, as is the common cold and flu ................ only much worse from infection rate to effects, just as flu is much worse than the common cold.
Ever think about why there is annual vaccination against flu, but not the common cold?
The flu virus a) mutates every year, and b) is a worse sickness than the common cold, possibly leading to death for elderly, very young and compromised.
Just as the covid virus and its variants are mutating regularly.
Hopefully, the variants will become weaker in effects, and the scientists will able to produce new vaccines to respond to the new variants, so that we can have annual covid vaccination as well as flu.
Until then ................... listen to the scientists, and NOT those on social media, but learn to read scientific reports and papers, even if you just skim them.
If you're a scientist, it doesn't matter if you look ugly in front of a camera and you are verbally not so well versed and speaking with a heavy accent, - especially in medicine, if you're good at your job as a scientist you'll always have a job and others will be thankful for that.
Politicians on the other hand, are often overpaid, worried about how they look on camera, and want to get re-elected at any cost. They don't work by scientific evidence, but by ratings and polls and what the public or a majority in their believe of the public thinks. So, if there is a sports stadium full of fans, some wearing masks some not is seen by the public as less harmful than travel, they're having a go at travel. And if politics is having a go at travel, we know, they mostly blame aviation, not so much trains, even though it's known that the virus spread more on trains rather than within airplanes..... So if the polls say there should be testing at the airport and further forms and bureaucracy upon entry into Canada, politicians will do it, no matter if it produces long queues at the airport or not, if chances for infections are increased due to queues at the airport.
Ford as a provincial election coming up soon, Trudeau moved one forward in hopes of his favour, and he was wrong and the cost of that election could easily have been spend on any covid health care related matter. Boris in the UK is under pressure and who knows what Biden is up to, given his age.
Also there is some encouraging news from South Africa: ( Whether it's too early to call, or uncertain if the numbers are to be trusted, is probably another discussion... )
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/worl...iant-1.4759122
Last edited by OrangeMango; Dec 18th 2021 at 1:18 pm.
