Medical experts say reopening borders and allowing more travel, especially in and out of the country, could jeopardize Canada’s progress in flattening the curve
Mounting concern over the risks of increased travel comes as more than 130 airlines, airports, hotels, chambers of commerce and tourism companies in Canada have joined forces to urge the federal and provincial governments to ease travel restrictions.Infectious-disease experts say a push by a new Canadian tourism lobby group to loosen travel restrictions and lift quarantine requirements poses a serious risk and could trigger a wave of new COVID-19 infections in the country.
The new group, the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable, is asking governments to “streamline and clarify rules around travel in order to ensure safe, accessible and timely travel for Canadians this summer,” according to a press release. The group includes Air Canada, WestJet, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies.
The group is also advocating for the removal of any restrictions on travel within the country, writing in the letter that “Canadians should be free to travel across Canada.” However COVID-19 cases are surging in several countries around the world, which experts cite as a serious concern. On Sunday, more than 183,000 new cases were recorded worldwide, the largest one-day increase since the pandemic began. Brazil, the U.S. and India had the highest number of cases.
Around the world, countries are adopting their own approaches to travel. The European Union is expected to loosen border restrictions next week, which would allow travellers from countries that have controlled the spread of COVID-19 to travel there. But New Zealand, which has largely contained the virus, made its border and quarantine restrictions even stronger after three new travel-related cases of the disease were reported in the country last week.
Michael Gardam, an infection prevention and control expert and chief of staff at Toronto’s Humber River Hospital, said there is “no way” he would get on a plane any time soon because the threat is still too great, particularly when thinking about travelling to countries such as the U.S.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Feds plan to run open competitions for some COVID-19 medical supplies: AnandThe federal Liberals say the government will go back to using competitive bid processes to get protective equipment needed across the country due to COVID-19.
Read more »
Novak Djokovic tests positive for COVID-19 - TSN.caNovak Djokovic tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday after taking part in a tennis exhibition series he organized in Serbia and Croatia. The top-ranked Serb is the fourth player to test positive for the virus after first playing in Belgrade and then again last weekend in Zadar, Croatia. His wife also tested positive.
Read more »
Conservatives hold worst attendance record at House of Commons COVID-19 committeeThe low turnout is prompting charges of hypocrisy from the NDP
Read more »
'This is going to produce cognitive deficits': Famed neuroscientist Adrian Owen launches COVID-19 brain studySo far little work has been done on COVID\u002D19’s potential impact on the brain. People were too focused on saving lives.
Read more »
'This is going to produce cognitive deficits': Famed neuroscientist Adrian Owen launches COVID-19 brain studySo far little work has been done on COVID\u002D19’s potential impact on the brain. People were too focused on saving lives.
Read more »