OTTAWA FACING MOUNTING PRESSURE TO DROP ALL COVID-19 TESTING FOR FULLY VACCINATED TRAVELLERS

Chandrayee Roy Choudhury, Canada: Two infectious diseases physicians have joined forces with the travel industry to call for an end to Canada's pre and post-arrival COVID-19 testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers.

Over the past several months, members of the beleaguered travel industry have repeatedly lobbied Ottawa to relax its travel restrictions. 

At a news conference held at Toronto's Pearson International Airport on Thursday, Dr. Dominik Mertz and Dr. Zain Chagla — along with the Tourism Industry Association of Canada — argued that Canada's testing requirements for travellers are pointless, because Omicron has already spread across the country. 

The latest call to drop Canada's testing requirements comes as several provinces have relaxed COVID-19 restrictions and a growing number of Canadians are making international travel plans.