Travellers arriving in Vancouver from Hong Kong stated they have been relieved to be among the many final arrivals earlier than Canada’s new COVID-19 testing necessities took impact, together with one lady who modified her flight to keep away from the principles.
Beginning Thursday, from 12:01 a.m. jap time, Canada would require travellers from China, Hong Kong or Macau to supply proof of a unfavorable PCR or antigen check inside two days of departure.
The brand new measure, in place for 30 days, is a response to a surge within the virus in China and the restricted epidemiological and different information accessible, the Public Well being Company of Canada introduced Saturday.
Penny Tao was aboard a Cathay Pacific flight that touched down round 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.
One other Cathay flight was delayed and anticipated to reach at 9:02 p.m. native time, simply after the principles have been to take impact.
Tao stated she was planning to go to Canada for Chinese language New Yr, which happens on Jan. 22, however when she turned conscious of the approaching testing guidelines, she switched to an earlier flight. She stated her schedule was too busy to rearrange a check.
“I don’t have sufficient time as a result of the brand new 12 months is developing,” stated Tao, who’s planning to tour Vancouver and elsewhere with a longtime good friend for the following couple of months.
One other passenger on the flight stated he felt fortunate to have the ability to return to Vancouver with out offering check outcomes.
The Canadian citizen, who’s returning after greater than 20 years working in Hong Kong, requested to not be recognized on security grounds, saying he in any other case felt uncomfortable taking concerning the scenario in China and Hong Kong. He stated the COVID-19 scenario was not as extreme in Hong Kong as mainland China, the place the sudden lifting of pandemic restrictions has led to a surge in circumstances.
“I believe I’m the final one to return again to Canada amongst my buddies’ circle, most of my buddies returned (to Vancouver) over two years in the past. I’m the final one,” stated the previous British Columbia Institute of Expertise scholar.
He stated he was trying “to having excessive tea and enjoying mah-jong collectively” along with his buddies.
Hong Kong resident Larry Cui was carrying a unfavorable COVID check simply in case he was requested to supply it. He wasn’t conscious till he arrived that he touched down earlier than the principles have been to start.
“I didn’t know that. Truly, I did the check yesterday earlier than getting on the aircraft simply in case the Canadian officers right here requested me,” stated Cui.
In Shanghai, Jiayuan Jin was in the meantime making ready to fly to Vancouver and be among the many first arrivals below the brand new testing regime.
The Canadian resident is a third-year College of British Columbia scholar finding out economics. However she has been in China for the reason that early days of the pandemic in 2020,finding out remotely at UBC, after which as an alternate scholar at a college in Shanghai.
She was because of arrive in Vancouveron Jan. 7, two days earlier than the time period begins.
Jin stated in an interview in Mandarin that she deliberate to take a PCR check earlier than boarding. She stated she was assured of testing unfavorable.
She stated she supported Canada’s new testing rule as a approach to preserve everybody secure, and the method of getting a COVID-19 check in China was handy.
“It’s simple to guide a COVID-19 check. For instance, in Shanghai, I’ll bump right into a COVID-19 check sales space each 200 metres and inside 10 hours, I might get outcomes,” stated Jin.
“For individuals who really feel unwell and have COVID-19, they received’t have the ability to enter into Canada. However people who find themselves COVID-free can return to go to their households and proceed their life right here.”
The Chinese language authorities has criticized the testing necessities imposed on passengers from China and threatened countermeasures towards international locations concerned, together with the U.S. and a number of other European nations.
“We imagine that the entry restrictions adopted by some international locations focusing on China lack scientific foundation, and a few extreme practices are much more unacceptable,” International Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated at a each day briefing Tuesday.
“We’re firmly against makes an attempt to control the COVID measures for political functions and can take countermeasures based mostly on the precept of reciprocity,” she stated.
This story was produced with the monetary help of the Meta and Canadian Press Information Fellowship.
-With information from The Related Press
© 2023 The Canadian Press
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