The Canadian government announced on Monday that it will end all health restrictions at the border on Saturday to curb the spread of the coronavirus. COVID-19 and in particular the requirement of the mandatory vaccination to enter Canada.

“We believe we are now in a position to change our approach to international borders,” he said. Dominic LeBlancMinister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

The health situation has improved a lot,” he said, so it will no longer be necessary to monitor, quarantine or isolate travelers.

Until now, to enter Canada, people over the age of 12 had to be vaccinated or undergo routine covid detection tests and quarantine for 14 days.

Random testing of the vaccinees also continued.

According to the Canadian government, the transmission of the virus mainly takes place within the country. “Imported covid cases and their variants no longer significantly influence the evolution of the pandemic in the country,” justified Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.

“The focus has to be on having the vaccination up to date (…) that’s where you have to invest,” Duclos said, adding that the Covid-19 “is still there.”

According to a statement from the Public Health Agency of Canadathe change was made because the country has “broadly passed the peak” of infections caused by the omicron variant, high vaccination coverage and low hospital admissions.

“We can do this because tens of millions of Canadians have rolled up their sleeves and got vaccinated,” transportation minister Omar Alghabra told reporters. “We all worked together to follow the guidelines, get vaccinated and protect each other,” he added.

In Canada around 90% of the population aged 12 years or older received two doses of the vaccine, and half received reinforcements, according to official figures. Anyway, it is still recommended to wear the mask to prevent the spread of the virus.