Canada mandates vaxpass for air sea and land travelers

Canada which opened its borders to fully vaccinated American citizens on Monday, August 10, leading to hours-long back-ups at border crossings has announced new vaxpass measures for in-country travelers.

By the fall, air travelers, cruise ship passengers, and those taking the train from province to province in Canada will need to show proof they’ve been vaccinated against covid. “As will all employees in the federally regulated air, rail, and marine transportation sectors,” said, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra. “As soon as possible in the fall and no later than the end of October, the government of Canada will require employees in the federally regulated air, rail, and marine transportation sectors to be vaccinated,” Alghabra’s office noted in a statement. “The vaccination requirement will also extend includes all commercial air travelers,” Alghabra added that vaccinations will also be required for all workers for the federal government, the nation’s largest employer.

Although Canada currently has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, with nearly 64% of its population fully vaccinated, case numbers are going up again, with the nation’s top health official, Dr. Theresa Tam, warning earlier this week that Canada has entered a fourth wave. “Cases are plotting along a strong resurgence trajectory,” Tam told reporters on Thursday there are now upward of 13,000 active cases, which is more than twice the number there were in July. Tam says the majority of the new daily cases are affecting those between the ages of 20 and 39.