Canada has decided to extend the ban on individuals from Ebola-affected countries from entering the country for an additional 30 days, further delaying the processing of residency applications for thousands of people since May.
The extension, officially announced by the Public Health Agency of Canada on Friday, means that immigration and visa decisions for individuals from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan will be on hold until Sept. 28. Even those holding valid visas from these countries will not be allowed entry into Canada.
Although the risk of Ebola in Canada remains low, the government views these measures as necessary precautions due to the seriousness of the disease. However, some experts in public health argue that the decision is unwarranted and contradicts the recommendations of the World Health Organization, appearing to prioritize the protection of Canadians.
In addition to the entry ban, Canada will uphold a 21-day quarantine for individuals returning from the aforementioned countries, impacting the ability of aid organizations to deploy humanitarian workers to the region. Foreign nationals who have visited the D.R.C. within the past 21 days will also be prohibited from flying to Canada.
While the Ebola outbreak has been declared over in Uganda by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, no cases have been reported in South Sudan. However, in the neighboring D.R.C., the outbreak has claimed 2,786 lives out of 5,794 confirmed cases, making it the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record and potentially the deadliest.
Ebola is transmitted through bodily fluids such as blood, vomit, and semen, with individuals being contagious only when showing symptoms. The unique challenges in the D.R.C., including limited access to healthcare and clean water, as well as security threats from rebel groups, make containing the outbreak particularly difficult in that region.
As of August 12, immigration officials have put 31,693 permanent residency applications and 10,465 temporary residency applications on hold from overseas. Additionally, documents of individuals granted residency but currently outside Canada have also been suspended, affecting 1,534 permanent residents and 23,415 temporary residents abroad.
The measures taken by Canada were initially implemented before the FIFA World Cup as a precautionary step aligned with the safety protocols of the United States and Mexico.