Canada

The federal government is resuming mandatory random COVID testing for international travelers

The federal government has reinstated mandatory random COVID testing for fully vaccinated international travelers arriving at any of the four major airports.

The policy reversal comes just over a month after the public safety measure was lifted.

Testing resumes for passengers arriving in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Montreal starting next Tuesday.

The highly contagious BA-5 subvariant of Omicron has been confirmed in Newfoundland and Labrador, with a projected spike in cases over the next two to four weeks, according to Public Health.

Testing is being moved out of airports and will instead take place at off-site locations such as pharmacies. Travelers can also book an appointment for a virtual self-rub.

Unvaccinated passengers will still need to be tested on the first and eighth days of the mandatory two-week quarantine period. Fully vaccinated travelers who arrive in the country and test positive must self-isolate for a full ten days, regardless of individual isolation requirements in each province.