Canada will no longer require passengers travelling on non stop from India to get a COVID test done within 18 hours before departure. It has also ended the need for third country testing for those coming on one-stops from India since Friday. This means, people travelling from, say India to Canada via the Gulf/Europe/US will no longer need to be tested at the transit country before taking a connecting flight to their destination.

Also read: Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to hold review meeting with 5 states today over COVID-19 situation

To be sure, Canada continues to require that all travellers, unless specifically exempted, have a valid negative pre-departure Covid-19 molecular test result taken within 72 hours before a scheduled flight to Canada.

Also read: Ottawa police call for reinforcements as anti-vax protest begins

At this time, the travel advisory for India that is in force, limits pre-departure testing to a single laboratory of the company Genestrings located at Delhi airport. Travellers had to provide a negative test result before they are allowed boarding for any Canadian destination, making the process problematic to those connecting via Delhi as getting the test taken and results received consume up to eight or nine hours.

Also read: Novel coronavirus may remain active for much longer in some patients: Study

A test conducted in India is likely to be accepted for onward journey to Canada from a third country once the expected announcement is made.

Also read: NeoCoV coronavirus: What WHO has to say about the new virus

However, Canada still has in place a warning against any non-essential travel abroad due to concerns over the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. That, though, is relevant to those departing Canada rather than incoming passengers.