Canadian COVID-19 News

[GordMay]

Testing better than travel ban 'whack-a-mole,' infectious disease specialist says

McMaster University physician, Dr. Zain Chagla, is highly critical of Canada's plan to try and slow the spread of the new Omicron variant by banning travellers from 10 African nations only, and said testing, not travel bans, is a less harmful and more effective mitigation strategy.

Chagla said playing “whack-a-mole” with travel bans affecting only some countries is based on political expediency, not science.

“It was reactive,” Chagla said Friday in an interview with The Canadian Press. “I think as countries started pulling the trigger other countries started pulling the trigger and showing their population that they were doing something about it.”

More about ➥ https://www.cp24.com/news/testing-be...says-1.5692861


*** AND ***

Here's how the new arrival testing system will work for foreign travellers from non-U.S. destinations

Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos sought today to clarify complicated new COVID-19-related travel requirements, saying that all passengers coming from non-U.S. foreign destinations will soon have to undergo mandatory testing on arrival.

Alarmed by the new omicron coronavirus variant, the federal government announced this week it would make these incoming passengers get another COVID-19 test when they arrive in Canada. This new test is in addition to the pre-departure molecular test that all travellers must undergo before leaving for Canada.

More about ➥ https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canad...AFI?li=AAggNb9

[Greg K]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Testing better than travel ban 'whack-a-mole,' infectious disease specialist says

McMaster University physician, Dr. Zain Chagla, is highly critical of Canada's plan to try and slow the spread of the new Omicron variant by banning travellers from 10 African nations only, and said testing, not travel bans, is a less harmful and more effective mitigation strategy.

More about ➥ https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canad...AFI?li=AAggNb9

Except for the unvaccinated on domestic flights, of course. In that case, its just the opposite. The hypocrisy is laughable.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Greg K

Except for the unvaccinated on domestic flights, of course. In that case, its just the opposite.

In Canada, if you’re 12 years of age plus 4 months, or older, you’ll need to be fully vaccinated in order to board domestic, or international flights, departing from most airports in Canada, including charter and foreign airlines carrying commercial passengers [/w some few exceptions, like medivac etc], and a negative COVID-19 test will no longer serve as a substitute, for most people.

[Greg K]

Originally Posted by GordMay

In Canada, if you’re 12 years of age plus 4 months, or older, you’ll need to be fully vaccinated in order to board domestic, or international flights, departing from most airports in Canada, including charter and foreign airlines carrying commercial passengers [/w some few exceptions, like medivac etc], and a negative COVID-19 test will no longer serve as a substitute, for most people.

So, if I'm reading this correctly, an unvaccinated, non-resident Canadian citizen may still be allowed to enter Canada with a negative pcr and a two week quarantine but then, technically, will be trapped in Canada unable to return home... unless driving across the border and flying out from the US is an option. Presumably, unvaccinated foreign nationals studying or working in Canada who wish to leave Canada for whatever reason would also be prevented from returning home.

If this is in fact true, do such draconian measures make any sense to anybody that can still think rationally about pubic health policies?

[sv_pelagia]

not a good time to be a travel agent

[Scorpius]

Originally Posted by GordMay

In Canada, if you’re 12 years of age plus 4 months, or older, you’ll need to be fully vaccinated in order to board domestic, or international flights, departing from most airports in Canada, including charter and foreign airlines carrying commercial passengers [/w some few exceptions, like medivac etc], and a negative COVID-19 test will no longer serve as a substitute, for most people.

Sounds good to me.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by GordMay

In Canada, if you’re 12 years of age plus 4 months, or older, you’ll need to be fully vaccinated in order to board domestic, or international flights, departing from most airports in Canada, including charter and foreign airlines carrying commercial passengers [/w some few exceptions, like medivac etc], and a negative COVID-19 test will no longer serve as a substitute, for most people.

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/tr...avel#mandatory


Also applies to cross-provincial trains. There are a number of exemptions which attempt to provide 'reasonable accommodation' to those who can't or won't get vaccinated.

[Scorpius]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/tr...avel#mandatory


Also applies to cross-provincial trains. There are a number of exemptions which attempt to provide 'reasonable accommodation' to those who can't or won't get vaccinated.

"Can't" I understand (although I understand there are VERY few medical conditions that preclude vaccination - unless you are a Conservative MP!) but "Won't"? Why are we making any kind of accommodation for people who won't get vaccinated.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Scorpius

"Can't" I understand (although I understand there are VERY few medical conditions that preclude vaccination - unless you are a Conservative MP!) but "Won't"? Why are we making any kind of accommodation for people who won't get vaccinated.

Well, I think most of the "won't" category falls under "sincere religious belief" category. Here are the categories:

• Travel from remote communities
• Travel for essential medical services and treatment
• If Canada is not your final destination
• Emergency and urgent travel (including for urgent medical reasons)
• Other exceptional travel in the national interest
• Medical inability to be vaccinated
• Sincere religious belief

I don't agree with most of the special privileges we afford organized religion, but I understand the reasoning.

[Scorpius]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Well, I think most of the "won't" category falls under "sincere religious belief" category. Here are the categories:

• Travel from remote communities
• Travel for essential medical services and treatment
• If Canada is not your final destination
• Emergency and urgent travel (including for urgent medical reasons)
• Other exceptional travel in the national interest
• Medical inability to be vaccinated
• Sincere religious belief

I don't agree with most of the special privileges we afford organized religion, but I understand the reasoning.

Sorry, I don't buy any of them except "Medical inability to be vaccinated" and maybe for urgent medical reasons - other than to receive treatment for Covid (wouldn't that be the ultimate irony?).

Since Valhalla is my "final" destination and it's presumably not in Canada (although maybe it is), I suppose, if I were an anti-vaxxer, I could claim that exemption and go anywhere I wanted, anytime, by any means!

[Kelkara]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Well, I think most of the "won't" category falls under "sincere religious belief" category. Here are the categories:

Until the end of February there is also an exemption for foreign national "won't"s to be able to leave Canada.

[Scorpius]

Originally Posted by Kelkara

Until the end of February there is also an exemption for foreign national "won't"s to be able to leave Canada.

Perhaps that exemption should be permanent - and encouraged.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Scorpius

Sorry, I don't buy any of them except "Medical inability to be vaccinated" and maybe for urgent medical reasons - other than to receive treatment for Covid (wouldn't that be the ultimate irony?).

Since Valhalla is my "final" destination and it's presumably not in Canada (although maybe it is), I suppose, if I were an anti-vaxxer, I could claim that exemption and go anywhere I wanted, anytime, by any means!

Only if it was a "sincere religious belief" . And one that falls into established religions. I don't think Norse mythology is recognized, but maybe you could petition for its inclusion .

[Kelkara]

Originally Posted by Scorpius

Since Valhalla is my "final" destination and it's presumably not in Canada (although maybe it is), I suppose, if I were an anti-vaxxer, I could claim that exemption and go anywhere I wanted, anytime, by any means!

Try again ... Valhalla is in BC: https://bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/valhalla/

And I believe even Asgard is on Baffin Island: https://www.google.com/search?source...q=mount+asgard

[TrentePieds]

Scorpius said: "Since Valhalla is my "final" destination and it's presumably not in Canada (although maybe it is)..."

Well of COURSE it is! Gimli MB is there to prove it, isn't it :-0)!

You do know that before entering Valhalla, you are required to recite:

Sol er oppe,
skovens toppe
glimrer alt som Gimles tag;
bud os bringer
hanevinger,
hanegal om klaren dag.
Vågner, vågner, danske helte!
springer op og spænder bælte!
dag og dåd er kæmperim.

Gimle was, as I'm sure you know, the most beautiful place in Asgard, the home of the Æsir, including Thor.

Should our paths ever cross, upon the waters, I may tell you what befell Thor one early morning after the Æsir had had one heck of a party in Gimle :-)

TrentePieds