The Canadian government will require travellers from Ebola-affected regions to self-isolate for 21 days effective as of Wednesday.
In addition, immigration authorities are temporarily suspending applications from Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Uganda.
Health Minister Majorie Michel said in a press conference Tuesday afternoon that despite the self-isolation requirement, the health risk to Canadians “remains low.”
“We are putting forward a precautionary approach to ensure the safety and security of Canadians,” she said.
All travellers will be assessed by border officials, while those who have symptoms will be transferred to hospital for further medical assessment.
The stricter border controls are being implemented under the Quarantine Act starting this Saturday until Aug. 29, and those who do not have a place to isolate will be provided with a location.
Immigration Minister Lena Diab also said that documents will not be cancelled.
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“This is a suspension of documents, it is temporary. And while the measures are in place, once the measures end, documents that have not expired will be reactivated and there is no need for anyone to reapply,” she said.
She also expects these measures to be in place for 90 days.
Government officials stated before the press conference that on average, 350 people from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan come to Canada each week.
The majority of passengers arrive in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver airports, with about 60 per cent of flights being Canadians or permanent residents, whereas 40 per cent are foreign nationals.
With the FIFA World Cup set to kick off on June 11 and Canada hosting its first game in Toronto on June 12, concerns have mounted over precautions being taken across North America to prevent spread of the disease.
- Toronto hotels expecting ‘uneven’ bookings in June thanks to World Cup
- Quebec municipalities and environmentalists say province’s water reserves are at risk
- Gordie Howe International Bridge ribbon-cutting set to go ahead this week
- Central Okanagan food bank aims to save millions of pounds of food going to waste
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and the Department of Homeland Security imposed a U.S. entry ban on May 22 on foreign travellers who have been in Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan in the past 21 days “effective immediately.”
Mexico also issued a travel ban to the affected areas on May 17. Michel said Canada’s response is “in line with the U.S. and Mexico.”
Currently, there are no plans for a Canadian travel ban surrounding affected areas.
“Canada is a sovereign country. Canada will do what Canada feels it’s best to do,” said Diab. “We have put in measures that we feel are comfortable that will protect Canadians.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola a public health emergency of international concern on May 17.
WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus then said on Monday that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda was outpacing response efforts, giving the latest number of suspected deaths as 220.
He also said a delay in detecting Ebola cases meant responders were now “playing catch-up” and the epidemic was likely to get worse before it gets better, as containing the fast-moving outbreak was complicated by the fact that Congo’s Ituri and North Kivu provinces were highly insecure and there were no approved vaccines for Bundibugyo virus.
As usual, too little too late. Should just enact travel ban until they get their disease(s) under control.
Oh, and why is every Canadian “Health” Minister so ridiculously out of shape?
In this smoke and mirrors article nowhere is it mentioned who will pay for these people being supplied a place to isolate. So if the Canadian taxpayer is paying why not still come and get shelter and food for 21days for free then go about the business you came to Canada for in the first place. I wonder how many people will take the opportunity to claim refugee status while in isolation A travel ban is good enough for the US and Mexico but not Canada we let them come to Canada first then deal with the problem
Check the people at their airports before they leave, not when they get to Canada.
Why won’t the video play? Very pathetic
What the F*** is wrong with this government? Stop any and all flights from the region, no matter who is on them. A 21 day quarantine? On who’s dime?
Good. We need to take steps to ensure Canadians are safe.
Do not let anyone into Canada from affected regions. Checking people at the airport is ridiculous.
No! No! No! No one that has been in any of those countries should be allowed to step foot in Canada. What about our rights as citizens????
Liberals have an open door to all immigrants . no back ground checks or nothing,, just let them all in now Ebola is probably in ever province spreading . since they are dumb enough to take long to take action so i guess that” diversity is our strength”
How much longer? How much longer can Canadians and Canada last under the progressive liberal rule?
When will Canadians finally tell carney, Jolie, annand, Lena, champagne, and all that progressive liberal government “enough!”
This government acts and runs the country like the taxpayers work for them, that they hold the power, if democracy works, that’s the other way around.
All they do is lie, it’s just after 10 years of the same, Canadians are finally having enough.
It’s not a conservative/ liberal issue anymore, it’s a Canadian issue
Why even let them in?
No !!! How about No for a change
Whoever is responsible for making these decisions, tell your two functioning brain cells to stop fighting for last place to take a minute and think of the consequences if something goes wrong.
Good old “we don’t want to offend” at the expense of actual canadians.
Closed the boarder to these places like Mexico and the US.
They learned absolutely nothing from covid
Wonder how long before they find an excuse to illegally invoke the EA again
Ya, the self-isolation requirement worked so well during COVID; NOT!
Just refuse entry to Canada would work a lot better!!
Honestly why are we even allowing flights from that dung heap to begin with
Come on, we are NOT doing this again. STOP them from travelling.
SELF-ISOLATE ….. THEY HAVE TO BE JOKING…..
THE FEDS ACTUALLY BELIEVE THESE IDIOTS ARE GOING TO STAY HOME FOR 3 WEEKS??? WHAT A JOKE!!!! YOU EITHER STOP ALL ARRIVALS FROM AFFECTED PLACES OR THE GOVERNMENT PUTS THEM IN INTO AN ISOLATION UNIT AND THEY ARE MONITORED.
LIBERAL = STUPIDITY!!!!!!!!!
How about no one from any African countries can come to Canada until the ebola breakout ends and that includes canadians of convenience and anyone who went to visit/vacation stays away. Self isolation what could go wrong!!!!. Don’t mind me walking down to the grocery store. How about put them in a place they cannot go anywhere. Till they are totally vetted to be safe to join society.
I’d be more worried about the illegals in Canada that are killing people right now. Not ebola….
WHO cares..
More fearmongering from global
They are doing their damdest to mke something out of nothing again , the WHO control .