The Canadian government announced on Sunday that it will prohibit entry for foreign nationals who have visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the past 21 days. This decision is part of temporary border measures aimed at preventing the spread of Ebola. The restrictions will come into effect on Monday at 11:59 p.m. ET and will remain in place until August 29, as per the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
The move to restrict entry of individuals who have been in the DRC within the last 21 days is intended to mitigate public health risks for Canadians and enhance the efficacy of border measures. The PHAC emphasized that this step is precautionary and aims to ensure the safe processing of travelers entering Canada, including returning humanitarian workers.
Currently, the travel health notice risk level for the Congo is categorized as orange, indicating a Level 3 out of 4 advisory to avoid non-essential travel. While the risk of Ebola for Canadians is deemed low, no travel-related cases have been reported in the country. The government clarified that these measures are implemented as a precautionary measure to safeguard public health.
Contrary to the World Health Organization’s guidance against travel restrictions with Congo, the Canadian government’s decision to impose entry bans aligns with its containment efforts amid the ongoing outbreak. The UN health agency has cautioned that travel restrictions could lead to stigmatization and hinder efforts to control epidemics.
In late May, Canada imposed stringent travel and immigration restrictions on individuals from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, suspending immigration documents for citizens of these countries. However, Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and those registered under the Indian Act who have visited these nations within the past 21 days are allowed to travel to Canada but are subject to health assessments upon arrival and mandatory 21-day quarantine.
Ebola primarily spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals. The Congo has recorded 2,011 confirmed cases of Ebola, resulting in 754 deaths, according to recent government data. The WHO has reported over 100 healthcare workers infected since the outbreak began.
In a similar move, the U.S. also implemented measures preventing Americans who have been in Congo within the previous 21 days from entering the country via commercial flights. Currently, seven U.S. aid workers involved in containing the outbreak in Congo are undergoing quarantine in Kenya.