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Source: https://www.chch.com/travel-experts...oval-of-obsolete-testing-practices-at-border/
Travel experts, doctors call for removal of ‘obsolete testing practices’ at border
By News Staff -
February 10, 2022, 9:14 pm
With COVID-19 cases dropping across Canada, and with hospitalizations on the decline, the travel industry is calling for an end to PCR testing for both domestic and international travelers. They’ve got some top infectious disease specialists supporting them.
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada says there are many places that are ready to welcome back more travellers and it’s time to make the trip easier. President of the Travel Tourism Industry of Canada says, “Canadians tell us they are eager to travel and Canadian tourism businesses are ready to welcome the world back to Canada.”
The travel industry says PCR testing is now an unnecessary obstacle. It’s calling upon the federal government to get rid of it and a couple of doctors from McMaster agree that it’s time. Dr. Zain Chagla, infectious disease specialist says, “in terms of trying to prevent Omicron from coming into Canada, when 10% to 30% of your local population already got COVID, it really becomes a little bit futile to try and prevent it from coming over the border.”
Dr. Chagla not only says PCR testing is out of date because it can show a positive result six months after infection but that they are also very expensive. “Hundreds to thousands of dollars to pay for their families to get tested to return to Canada, at the expense of countries that can charge whatever rates they need. So people meet the travel requirements, they have to meet the 72-hour turnaround time, which adds an additional expense.”
Dr. Dominik Mertz from McMaster says testing only makes sense when you are facing an unknown virus and COVID has now been with us for over two years. “Canada, as well as the rest of the globe pretty much, will transition into endemic...
Travel experts, doctors call for removal of ‘obsolete testing practices’ at border
By News Staff -
February 10, 2022, 9:14 pm
With COVID-19 cases dropping across Canada, and with hospitalizations on the decline, the travel industry is calling for an end to PCR testing for both domestic and international travelers. They’ve got some top infectious disease specialists supporting them.
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada says there are many places that are ready to welcome back more travellers and it’s time to make the trip easier. President of the Travel Tourism Industry of Canada says, “Canadians tell us they are eager to travel and Canadian tourism businesses are ready to welcome the world back to Canada.”
The travel industry says PCR testing is now an unnecessary obstacle. It’s calling upon the federal government to get rid of it and a couple of doctors from McMaster agree that it’s time. Dr. Zain Chagla, infectious disease specialist says, “in terms of trying to prevent Omicron from coming into Canada, when 10% to 30% of your local population already got COVID, it really becomes a little bit futile to try and prevent it from coming over the border.”
Dr. Chagla not only says PCR testing is out of date because it can show a positive result six months after infection but that they are also very expensive. “Hundreds to thousands of dollars to pay for their families to get tested to return to Canada, at the expense of countries that can charge whatever rates they need. So people meet the travel requirements, they have to meet the 72-hour turnaround time, which adds an additional expense.”
Dr. Dominik Mertz from McMaster says testing only makes sense when you are facing an unknown virus and COVID has now been with us for over two years. “Canada, as well as the rest of the globe pretty much, will transition into endemic...
