On Tuesday, Canada was listed among 14 countries whose travellers will be allowed to enter Europe starting July 1.
The announcement, which was foreshadowed earlier last week by European diplomats, comes as daily infections of the novel coronavirus in Canada continue to see a general decline.
The ease in travel restrictions applies to countries such as Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. The United States, however, joined other large countries like Brazil, Russia and India that didn’t make the cut due to a large number of COVID-19 infections.
The ease in restrictions now presents a way for Canadians to take a vacation or see their loved ones across the Atlantic Ocean.
Here’s what Canadians should know before deciding whether to travel.
Despite there being a strict advisory to “avoid all non-essential travel” outside of the country, Canadians are essentially allowed to come and go as they wish.
However, all travellers will have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon return.
The federal government’s advisory also maintains that “airspace closures and movement restrictions can occur without warning,” which could prevent Canadians from returning at any time.
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“The Government of Canada is not planning additional facilitated flights to bring Canadians home during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the advisory states.
According to a press release issued by the EU on Tuesday, the decision to ease travel restrictions only comes as a recommendation, and is “not a legally binding instrument.”
This means that member states still get the final say on their own travel restrictions, but the 31 European countries have all agreed to begin lifting said restrictions starting Wednesday.
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