Canada to ease travel requirements

Canada will ease entry for fully vaccinated international travelers starting on Feb. 28 as COVID-19 cases decline, allowing a rapid antigen test for travelers instead of a molecular one, officials said on Tuesday.

Antigen tests are cheaper than a molecular test and can provide results within minutes.

The new measures, which include random testing for vaccinated travelers entering Canada, were announced by federal government ministers at a briefing, reports Reuters.

Canada will monitor conditions with an eye on dropping coronavirus testing requirements for fully vaccinated Canadians who make short trips - less than 72 hours - abroad, usually to the United States, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said.

"These changes are possible not only because we have passed the peak of Omicron, but because Canadians across the country have listened to the science and to experts," Duclos told reporters.

About 80% of Canadians are fully vaccinated and over 40% have also taken a booster dose, according to the health ministry.

The global travel advisory for Canadians is also being changed. Previously the government recommended against all non-essential travel, and now it is only urging citizens to take precautions.

MS