Sinthia Hoque:-Amongst many other variants cases confirmed in Canada, a variant from India has recently started to create havoc, as yesterday they had confirmed cases of B.1.617 found in Ontario. Due to this Ford had called for strict restrictions starting April 19th at 11:30 p.m., which had banned all incoming commercial and private passenger flights for at least a month and only allowing cargo shipments as well only those who may travel via “indirect routes”.
Recently just mere days after this ban, Ontario has now confirmed 36 cases of this variant, and due to this Premier Doug Ford feels that it’s time to call for the tougher measure as he wants to close all non-essential travel into Canada. He says that it’s “extremely troubling” that this was found in Ontario to begin with and feels that is necessary to call for stricter measures.
“Right now our ICU capacity is stretched to its limits by the UK variant that got through our borders late last year. I am extremely concerned about the threat of this latest variant,” Ford stated.
As those who do wish to travel to Canada, may stop at another location prior to arriving here, however are required to not only go there go through the rules and regulations and obtain a negative COVID-19 test but also quarantine at a hotel for 14 days upon arriving in Canada.
“We need more action on our borders right now. The federal government must close all non-essential travel to Canada immediately. The new border measures announced at the end of this week came far too late and don’t do nearly enough to protect Canadians. Without further action we risk prolonging the third wave, or creating the conditions for a fourth one,” Ford stated.
“We won’t put this pandemic behind us if we can’t get ahead of these deadly variants cropping up around the world. I’m pleading with the federal government to close the border before new variants push us into more lockdowns and another crisis.”
Checkpoints are available at Manitoba and Quebec borders as non-essential interprovincial travel is non-permissible, effective as of Thursday, April, 19th.
Source: Baytoday.ca
