Healthcare workers wait for airline passengers at a COVID-19 testing center at Trudeau Airport in Montreal, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. Unvaccinated travellers over the age of 12 won't be able to board a plane or train in Canada as of today, now that the grace period has ended on the government's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Unvaccinated travellers over the age of 12 won't be able to board a plane or train in Canada beginning today, and a negative COVID-19 test will no longer serve as a substitute for most people.
The policy came into effect on Oct. 30, but the federal government allowed a short transition period for unvaccinated travellers who could board as long as they provided a negative molecular COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before their trip.
The stringent new requirement comes into effect as Canada reacts to the emergence of the new, highly mutated Omicron variant of COVID-19.