Canada Is Banning Flights From India & Pakistan For 30 Days

"Due to the continued spread of variants of concern."
Canada Is Banning Flights From India & Pakistan For 30 Days
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Reporter

Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced that Canada is suspending commercial and passenger flights from India and Pakistan for 30 days, effective April 22 at 11:30 p.m. EST "due to the continued spread of variants of concern."

The announcement comes just a day after Quebec's Institut national de santé publique (INSPQ) and CIUSSS de la Mauricie–Centre-du-Québec confirmed the province's first known case of the new COVID-19 variant strain, first identified in India, labelled B.1.617.

Editor's Choice: These Health Conditions Make You Eligible For Quebec's Next Round Of COVID-19 Vaccines

"This is a temporary measure while we assess the evolving situation and determine appropriate measures going forward," Alghabra said.

Cargo flights from both countries will be permitted to enter Canada to ensure a continued supply of vaccines, personal protective equipment (PPE) and other essential supplies.

Passengers who depart from either country to Canada via an indirect flight route after 11:30 p.m. tonight must obtain a negative COVID-19 pre-departure test at their last point of departure.

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  • Lea Sabbah
  • Lea Sabbah
    Lea Sabbah was a Staff Writer for MTL Blog. Previously, Lea was a radio host on CJLO 1690 AM and her work has been published by Global News, the Toronto Star, Le Devoir and the National Observer. In 2019, she was part of the investigative team that uncovered lead in Montreal's drinking water — a story which won Quebec's Grand Prix Judith-Jasmin. She's a graduate of the journalism program at Concordia University.

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