By Bev Fearis, published 6/01/21
Canada’s new Covid requirements have been branded “callous and impractical” and “the worst of both worlds” by the aviation industry.
Due to come into force tomorrow (Thursday), the rules will require all arriving air travellers to show proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test, taken within 72 hours before planned departure to the country, but the existing travel restrictions and 14-day quarantine requirements will remain in place.
“Moreover, no explanation has been provided as to why a PCR test is the only acceptable test, given that this is not readily available in many countries,” added IATA.
It urged the Canadian Government to put the initiative on hold until it has “defined testing requirements and coordinated with the industry to achieve realistic implementation timelines”.
“We need to start 2021 by taking steps to safely live with Covid-19. What is the point of implementing testing if it does not result in a lifting of border closures nor quarantine requirements? After nine-months of closed borders and confinement, we cannot afford to move in the wrong direction with the disastrous implementation of a counter-productive testing policy,” said IATA.
