Canada will deny entry to foreign nationals who have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the past 21 days, as part of new temporary border measures to combat the spread of Ebola.
The measures take effect Monday at 11:59 p.m. ET and will last until Aug. 29, the Public Health Agency of Canada said in a statement.
“Limiting entry of foreign nationals who have been in the DRC in the previous 21 days may reduce public health risks for Canadians,” the statement said.
The move is intended to increase the effectiveness of border measures while safely processing travelers, including returning humanitarian workers.
The risk of Ebola for Canadians remains low, and no travel-related cases have been reported in Canada. The government’s travel health notice for Congo is currently orange (Level 3 out of 4), advising against non-essential travel.
Ban Contravenes WHO Advice
The ban contradicts advice from the World Health Organization, which advises against travel or trade restrictions with Congo. The UN health agency says travel restrictions create stigma and can make epidemics harder to control.
“People from affected regions and African communities have faced unfair suspicion,” the WHO said last month. “The spread of Ebola is not determined by nationality or ethnicity.”
Canada previously clamped down on travel from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan in late May, suspending immigration documents from citizens of those countries.
Canadians Still Allowed Entry
Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and those registered under the Indian Act who have been in Congo within the last 21 days can still travel to Canada. However, they will receive a health assessment on arrival and must quarantine for 21 days.
Ebola Outbreak Worsens
The number of confirmed Ebola cases in Congo has reached 2,011, including 754 deaths, according to government data. The WHO says more than 100 health-care workers have been infected since the outbreak began.
Last week, the U.S. introduced similar measures, preventing Americans who had been in Congo in the previous 21 days from entering via commercial aviation. Seven U.S. aid workers who had been working in Congo to stop the outbreak are currently quarantining in a facility in Kenya.
Ebola is mostly spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of someone infected with the disease.
The Bottom Line
Canada is temporarily barring foreign nationals who have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the past 21 days to combat the spread of Ebola. The measures take effect July 20 and last until Aug. 29. The ban contradicts WHO advice, which warns that travel restrictions create stigma. Canadian citizens and permanent residents can still enter but must quarantine for 21 days. The outbreak has infected over 2,000 people and killed more than 750.
