Feds to require airline passengers to test negative for COVID-19 before arrival in Canada

OTTAWA – The federal government says it plans to require air travellers to test negative for COVID-19 before landing in Canada.

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc says cabinet ministers decided this morning to quickly enact the new requirement.

All passengers on flights entering Canada will require a negative PCR test three days before their arrival.

LeBlanc didn't say when the requirement will be in place.

The announcement follows criticism that federal travel restrictions and quarantine rules have been too lax.

It also comes as Ontario's finance minister finds himself in hot water over travelling out of the country despite Canadians being asked to avoid such trips.

Ontario set a new daily record for cases today with 2,923, with just over one-third of them in the country's largest city of Toronto.

Neighbouring Quebec is reporting 2,511 new cases of COVID-19 and 41 more deaths.

Earlier today, the U.K. became the first country to authorize use of the COVID-19 vaccine created by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

Health Canada says it needs more information before it can make a decision on the vaccine. The agency says in a statement that it is working with international counterparts like those in the U.K. to share information on vaccines under review.

Health Canada says it cannot provide a definite timeline for completion of its review of the vaccine.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 30, 2020.