Category: COVID travel restrictions

Canada Extends US Travel Restrictions Through July 21

WASHINGTON—Canada said Friday it will extend restrictions that bar non-essential travel at U.S. land borders until at least July 21. Reuters reported this week the United States is expected to issue a new extension of restrictions at the Canadian and Mexican borders that are set to expire June 21. The restrictions were first imposed in…


Australian Court Upholds Ban on Most International Travel

CANBERRA, Australia—An Australian court on Tuesday rejected a challenge to the federal government’s draconian power to prevent most citizens from leaving the country so that they don’t bring COVID-19 home. Australia is alone among developed democracies in preventing its citizens and permanent residents from leaving the country except in “exceptional circumstances” where they can demonstrate…


Too Early to Set a Date on Loosening Travel Restrictions: Canada’s Transport Minister

OTTAWA—Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says he cannot yet commit to a date—or COVID-19 vaccination rate benchmarks—for when so-called vaccine passports will allow Canada to ease travel restrictions. Speaking at a virtual news conference today, he says decisions around the hotel quarantine for air passengers and eventual reopening of the border will hinge on public health…


New Rules Appear to Push International Air Travel Down Even Further Than Pre Pandemic

OTTAWA—Canada’s new COVID-19 testing and quarantine rules for international air travellers appear to have convinced even more would-be travellers to stay put in recent weeks. In the last two weeks of January international arrivals fell to 106,000 people, and in the first two weeks of February, the figure fell further to 94,000 people, according to…


US Extends Travel Restrictions at Land Borders With Canada, Mexico Through March 21

WASHINGTON—U.S. land borders with Canada and Mexico will remain closed to non-essential travel until at least March 21, the one-year anniversary of the restrictions to address COVID-19 transmission concerns, the U.S. government said Friday. The new 30-day extension is the first announced under President Joe Biden and comes as the White House has been holding…


Florida’s Governor Pushes Back on Possible CCP Virus-Related Travel Restrictions

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing back against a report about a potential CCP Virus related domestic travel restriction for Floridians, calling the idea “unconstitutional.” “And I think it’s an absurd report that they would be doing that. I think it would be unconstitutional, it would be unwise and it would be unjust,” DeSantis said…


Flights From NZ to Australia Resume This Afternoon

Australia is reopening its doors to New Zealand travellers after health authorities gave the go-ahead. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said Acting Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd made the recommendation that the pause in flights from NZ did not need to be extended. “The Commonwealth has accepted this advice, meaning green zone flights will commence…


Ontario Announces Mandatory COVID-19 Testing For All International Passengers Arriving at Pearson Airport

All incoming travellers must be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival at Toronto’s Pearson Airport starting Feb. 1 at 12:01 p.m., Premier Doug Ford said on Jan. 29. Ford also said that the province will be exploring additional testing measures at the airport and land border crossings in the coming weeks. “We welcome the new measures…


Trudeau Announces Suspended Flights, Mandatory 3 Day Hotel Quarantine for Travellers

OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced all Canadian travellers returning from overseas will have to take a COVID-19 test at the airport when they land and quarantine in a designated hotel for three days at their own expense while they await results. He says that’s expected to cost more than $2,000. Those with negative test…