The Canadian government announced Monday that it will end all health restrictions at the border on Saturday to curb the spread of the virus. 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 there is no longer a need to monitor, quarantine or isolate travelers.

Until now, to enter Canada, people over the age of 12 had to be vaccinated or undergo a routine covid detection test 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 have a significant impact on the evolution of the pandemic in the country,” said Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.

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

According to a statement from the Public Health Agency of Canadathe change was made because the country has “largely exceeded” the peak of infections caused by the omicron variant, high vaccination rates and low hospitalization rates.

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

Around Canada 90% of the population aged 12 years or older received two doses of the vaccine, and half received reinforcements, according to official figures. However, wearing a face mask is recommended to prevent the spread of the virus.