Canada Introduces Temporary Border Measures Over Ebola Concerns

OTTAWA, May 27 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- The Canadian government on Tuesday announced a series of temporary border measures to reduce the risk of the Ebola virus entering and spreading in Canada, reported Xinhua.

According to a news release from the Public Health Agency of Canada, in response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and rising risks in Uganda and South Sudan, Canada will suspend immigration documents for residents of these countries for 90 days, starting Wednesday at 23:59 Eastern Time.

Individuals of these three countries holding previously approved temporary resident visas, electronic travel authorisations or permanent resident visas will be barred from travelling to Canada, said the release.

The processing of new applications from residents of these countries will also be temporarily paused, the release added.

Under an additional measure effective from 23:59 Eastern Time on May 30 until Aug 29, Canada will enforce a mandatory 21-day quarantine for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, persons registered under the Indian Act, and foreign nationals who visited the affected areas within the previous 21 days but show no symptoms. Travellers with symptoms will be isolated in hospital for further assessment under the Quarantine Act.

While emphasising that the risk to people in Canada remains low and there are currently no cases of Ebola disease in North America, the government said it is adopting a precautionary approach given the severity of the disease and the evolving international situation, including the upcoming FIFA World Cup.  

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA