Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement for domestic travelers will be suspended starting next week, officials said on Tuesday. “I am pleased to announce that on June 20, our government will suspend the vaccination requirement to board a plane or train in Canada,” Transport Minister Omar Alghbra said at a news conference.
In the meantime, travelers entering Canada must continue to show proof of vaccination. Those leaving the country would also be subject to vaccine mandates in other countries. Alghbra said the United States, a popular destination for Canadians, still requires proof of vaccination for those arriving from overseas.
He cited the relatively high rate of vaccination and the falling number of COVID cases across the country. The move also comes as most other pandemic restrictions have been lifted.
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominique LeBlanc said, however, that this would not immediately ease the deadlock at Canadian airports. That problem, along with delays in passport issuance, has sparked a public outcry in recent weeks, as more and more Canadians seek to travel after more than two years of pandemic restrictions and lockdowns.
The mandatory vaccine policy for travelers was introduced last October, and Alghbra warned that it could be reintroduced if Covid-19 cases return. “Our government will always continue to evaluate measures and will not hesitate to make additional adjustments based on the latest public health advice and science,” he said.
According to the Covid-19 Vaccination Tracker website, more than 82 percent of Canadians 12 and older have received two COVID vaccine doses, while almost half have also received a booster.
read all breaking news , today’s fresh news watch top videos And live TV Here.