At least for the next 6 months people flying out of Pearson Airport in Mississauga must be fully vaccinated

Travellers flying out of Pearson Airport in Mississauga can expect to have to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 before boarding flights for at least the next six months.  

That’s the word from federal Transport Minister and Mississauga Centre MP Omar Alghabra, who told insauga.com publisher Khaled Iwamura during an interview on Instagram late yesterday that keeping that rule in place is critical to fighting the pandemic. 

The new regulation, which applies to all travellers aged 12 and older, took effect on Nov. 30.  

“This virus is not only a threat to our health, but also to our economy,” Alghabra said. “So, it’s essential that we are laser-focused on ending this COVID-19 pandemic…(and) the vaccine mandate is part of that for now. We have a mandate for six months and that will be reassessed before the six months is over…and then we’ll make a decision based on the situation at hand. But for now, it’s a requirement for the next six months.” 

Under the travel regulations, announced by Ottawa in October, the same rules apply to those looking to board VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains as well as people looking to travel on non-essential marine vessels such as cruise ships.   

Mississauga travellers and people across Ontario can show their vaccine certificate QR code and verification app to board flights out of Pearson.    

To qualify as a “fully vaccinated traveller,” a person must have received a full series of a Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccine, or a combination of approved shots, with the last dose having been received at least 14 days prior to the day of travel. 

As far as international travellers arriving at Pearson Airport goes, Alghabra said the plan is to eventually, hopefully in the coming days, test everyone for the virus upon arrival, except for travellers from the U.S. 

Ottawa announced that new measure last week, in response to the recent identification of the new Omicron variant, but implementing it has proven troublesome given the logistics involved. 

“We are building on what we already have…we’ve had random testing at the airport, on average about 20 per cent (of arrivals being tested)…and we’re now escalating that until we reach 100 per cent…it’s been going up every day, and we’re hoping to get to 100 (per cent) in the coming days,” said Alghabra. 

The transport minister noted that U.S. travellers are exempt because health authorities in Canada have a better idea of what’s happening south of the border, and “as of today, there’s no significant community transmission of Omicron in the U.S.” 

Alghabra added that situation can change at any time if needed. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by insauga – Mississauga (@insauga)