Maple News reports that Canada has announced a new set of travel restrictions in response to the growing number of COVID-19 cases linked to emerging variants. Effective April 22, 2021, at 11:30 p.m. EST, all commercial and passenger flights from India and Pakistan are suspended for 30 days. The move is part of an ongoing effort by the Canadian government to protect public health amid a surge in global cases, particularly in South Asia.
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra confirmed that while direct commercial flights are halted, cargo flights carrying essential supplies such as vaccines and personal protective equipment will continue to be permitted. Travelers arriving in Canada from either country through indirect routes must now present a negative COVID-19 test result from their last point of departure before boarding.
Health data released by the Canadian government reveals that at least 35 international flights entering Canada over the past 14 days had passengers who tested positive for COVID-19, triggering concern about imported variants. Authorities are especially cautious following similar actions taken in December 2020, when flights from the United Kingdom were temporarily banned after the detection of a highly transmissible variant.
The heightened restrictions come as India reported a record-breaking 314,000 new COVID-19 cases and more than 2,100 deaths in a single day—marking the highest single-day tally globally since the beginning of the pandemic. India now has the second-highest total number of reported cases, after the United States.
Canada’s public health officials are closely monitoring a specific strain known as B.1.617, commonly referred to as the ‘India variant.’ While not yet officially labeled a Variant of Concern (VOC), it has been classified as a Variant of Interest due to its dual mutations, which may increase its transmissibility and potentially reduce vaccine effectiveness.
Dr. Howard Njoo, Canada’s Deputy Chief Public Health Officer, explained that variants of interest are continually assessed based on their public health impact. If evidence shows that such variants are more transmissible or cause worse health outcomes, they may be reclassified as variants of concern.
Experts, including vaccine specialist Dr. Cora Constantinescu, note that B.1.617 possesses mutations that may help it partially evade immune protection and make it more contagious—raising the stakes for protective measures. Canadian health authorities emphasize the importance of continued monitoring, vaccine rollout, and international cooperation to mitigate the risks associated with new viral strains.
As Canada navigates the challenges presented by these emerging COVID-19 threats, officials reaffirm their commitment to science-based decision-making to safeguard public health and adapt to an evolving global situation.