Returning vaccinated Canadians will be exempt from quarantine

Canadians who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and test negative for the virus will no longer have to quarantine after returning to their home country.

Canada’s government announced Monday that beginning July 5, Canadian citizens who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and test negative for the virus before and after their trip home will be exempt from the two-week quarantine mandate.

Canadians must be inoculated with a vaccine approved by the country to be excused from its quarantine mandate. The list of approved shots include the Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca-COVISHIELD and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Fully vaccinated Canadian residents will also be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test from before their arrival, take a second test once they arrive, and “present a suitable quarantine plan” if their test comes back positive.

According to The Associated Press, the pre-travel test must be completed 72 hours before arrival.

The travelers, however, will still be required to follow public health measures, including wearing masks in public and providing a list of close contacts for 14 days after entry into the country, according to the Canadian government.

“The cautious adjustments announced today are only possible because of the tremendous efforts of Canadians, and additional ones will only happen if we continue to protect each other,” Canadian Minister of Health Patty Hajdu said in the statement.

“Thank you to all those who have stepped up to get their first and second dose. If you haven’t, get vaccinated when it’s your turn, follow up for your second dose, and continue to follow public health measures,” she continued.

Canada’s scaled back restrictions on travel quarantining come despite the country, in coordination with the United States, extending coronavirus-era restrictions on nonessential travel across the border between the two countries.

Bill Blair, minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, wrote on Twitter last week that restrictions on nonessential travel would continue through July 21.

Our number one priority as we fight #COVID19 is keeping Canadians safe. In coordination with the U.S., we are extending restrictions on non-essential international travel and with the United States until July 21st, 2021.

— Bill Blair (@BillBlair) June 18, 2021

The conditions were set to expire Monday.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously said he wants 75 percent of the Canadian population to be vaccinated with their first dose and at least 20 percent fully inoculated before lifting travel constraints.

As of Monday, 65.9 percent of the Canadian population was inoculated with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 19 percent of the population was fully vaccinated, according to the country’s records.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has also extended restrictions on nonessential travel between the U.S. and Mexico until July 21.