Current Canadian COVID-19 Public Health Directives
A clearinghouse of information from national and provincial health ministries on public rules and restrictions
CoVaRR-Net is compiling data on the provincial and territorial responses to COVID-19 from across Canada. The content includes what the various provinces and territories are doing in regards to surveillance, control and prevention of the virus. Our team has created this document using publicly available information from government websites and some media outlets and will be updating it regularly.
An initiative from CoVaRR-Net’s Public Health, Health Systems and Social Policy Impact Pillar (Pillar 8)
All questions or comments can be directed to Andrea Mackay at andrea.mackay@usask.ca.
Date | Surveillance | Control | Prevention |
November 29-December 2 (Baseline) | CanCOGeN – Coordinated pan-Canadian, cross-agency network for large-scale SARS-CoV-2 and human host sequencing to track viral origin, spread and evolution, characterize the role of human genetics in COVID-19 disease and to inform time-sensitive critical decision making relevant to health authorities across Canada during the pandemic. – national strategy for COVID genomics surveillance consists of sequencing and analysis activities pertaining to specific sample types are prioritized according to criteria (1) |
International Travel to Canada: – Air travelers from all countries except the United States will need to take COVID-19 tests when arriving in Canada – 10 south African countries have entry prohibitions when arriving to Canada(Nigeria, Malawi, Egypt, South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini). Foreign nationals who have been in any of these countries within the previous 14 days will not be permitted entry into Canada – Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and people with status under the Indian Act that have arrived from any of these countries will need to self-isolate for 14 days even if fully vaccinated (regardless of their vaccination status or having had a previous history of testing positive for COVID-19) (2) |
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International travelling to the US – All inbound international air travelers to the US will be required to produce a COVID-19 negative test within one day of departure for the US starting on Dec. 6 (regardless of vaccination status or citizenship) (CDC) (3) | |||
December 3-9 (addition of wastewater surveillance and booster information) | Wastewater surveillance – June 7, 2021 PHAC is working in collaboration with other federal departments, provincial, territorial and municipal governments and academia across Canada to establish a pan-Canadian wastewater surveillance network capable of monitoring the spread of COVID-19 in Canada (4) | Recent report from the Auditor General of Canada identified gaps in PHAC’s previous response to COVID-19 border controls. (5) | NACI Booster Recommendations · Should – Populations at highest risk of waning protection 6 months after completing their primary series (LTC or other congregate settings, adults 80 years of age and older) · May – Other key populations at risk 6 months after completing their primary series (adults 70 to 79 years of age; people who received two doses of the AstraZeneca Vaxzevria/COVISHIELD vaccine or one dose of the Janssen vaccine; adults in or from First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities; and adults who are frontline healthcare workers who have direct in-person contact with patients and who were vaccinated with a very short interval. · All individuals in the authorized age groups without contraindications receive a primary series of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna Spikevax and Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty). · People in the authorized age group who are moderately to severely immunocompromised should receive a primary series of three doses of an authorized mRNA vaccine. Those who have previously received a complete primary COVID-19 vaccine series should receive an additional dose of an authorized mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (6) |
Testing of international travelers is done completely through the federal program and all positive cases receive expedited WGS at NML | |||
December 10-21 (Updates) | Guidelines for Enhanced Genomic Surveillance of Omicron – enhanced border surveillance – enhanced wastewater surveillance – Reflux sequencing of Omicron-positive screens – rapid sharing of genome sequences and accompanying contextual data to National SARS-coV-2 genomic database and public archives (7) |
Dec. 10 – Federal modeling identifies surge in cases and risk of Omicron high (8) | |
Dec.15 – Federal government does not recommend non-essential travel outside of Canada due to Omicron (9) | |||
Dec. 17 – pre-arrival PCR test (taken outside Canada) for all travellers for trips of all duration (effective Dec. 21) – Removed ban on flights from 10 African countries (effective Dec. 17) (10) |
References
- https://www.genomecanada.ca/en/cancogen
- https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2021/11/government-of-canada-introduces-additional-measures-to-address-covid-19-omicron-variant-of-concern.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html
- https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2021/06/statement-from-the-chief-public-health-officer-of-canada-on-june-7-2021.html
- https://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_oag_202103_03_e_43785.html
- https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/immunization/national-advisory-committee-on-immunization-naci/recommendations-use-covid-19-vaccines/statement-guidance-booster-doses/summary/summary.pdf
- https://usaskca1-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/ark588_usask_ca/ER_4yQh7wnJPu63nH4j1secBPCh_Fj15hNy1JBs1DegLPg?e=lUew7x
- https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/diseases-maladies/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/epidemiological-economic-research-data/update-covid-19-canada-epidemiology-modelling-20211210-en.pdf
- https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories
- https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid
Date | Surveillance | Control | Prevention |
November 29-December 2 (Baseline) | Screening – Discontinued since end of May to transition to WGS of all positives. VOC screening consisted of N501Y single assay up to Feb and then dual assays for N501Y and E484K from March to June (1) |
Travel – Not mandatory to self-isolate upon return from an out-of-province trip.(2) |
Proof of Vaccination – Vaccination mandatory for all health care workers. – Required for select non-essential events, services, and businesses. (5) |
Sequencing – From Sept to Nov 15 WGS sequencing strategy consisted of a monthly full census of all positives specimens while week 2,3, and 4 consisted of selecting a minimum of 10% from all positive while other samples were selected from priority list which includes: LTC, outbreak/cluster, vaccine escape, reinfection, hospitalization – Change due to Omicron – B.C. will resume sequencing all positive samples and will retrospectively sequence all samples from recent weeks. (1) |
Close Contacts – Vaccinated: self-monitor for 14 days. – Not fully vaccinated: self-isolate for 10 of the 14 days.(3) |
Masking – Required in all indoor public settings for people born in 2016 or earlier. (6) |
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COVID-19 Cases – Self-isolate for at least 10 days since the start of symptoms. Public health will advise if self-isolation is required beyond 10 days. (4) |
Gathering Restrictions – No restrictions on personal gatherings (except in high transmission regions). – Capacity limits on organized gatherings.(6) |
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December 3-9 (addition of wastewater surveillance and booster information) | Wastewater – Provincial/academic – 5 WWTPs (Metro Vancouver) – ~49% pop coverage – BCCC/UBC (7) |
Booster Criteria – People born in 1951 or earlier (70+) – Indigenous people born in 2003 or earlier (18+) – Rural and remote Indigenous communities – People receiving care (residents in independent living facilities and people who receive long term home support) – Health care workers (who received second dose on or before March 15) – People who got AstraZeneca for both dose one and dose two (8) |
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December 10-21 (Updates) | Dec. 17 – New PH Restrictions (in effect Dec. 20) – indoor gathering restrictions to one household plus 10 other individuals or one additional household if everyone is vaccinated – scanned proof vaccination for all organized events (previously only events of 50+ people) – still full capacity for restaurants by restricted to the table – venues over 1000 at 50% capacity – sports tournaments cancelled – cancellation of NYE parties (9) |
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Dec. 21 – Additional PH Restrictions (in effect Dec. 22 – Jan. 18) – no indoor organized gatherings (including weddings, receptions and parties) – bars and nightclubs clossed – max 6 people per table at restaurant, pub or café – gyms, fitness centers and dance studios shut down – seated events (concerts, sports games, movie theatres at 50% capacity) (10) |
References
- http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/about-covid-19/variants
- https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/travel/current
- http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/self-isolation/close-contacts
- http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/self-isolation#:~:text=You%20may%20need%20to%20self%2Disolate%20if%20you%20are%20a,of%20the%20COVID%2D19%20symptoms.
- https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/proof
- https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restrictions
- https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2021/06/statement-from-the-chief-public-health-officer-of-canada-on-june-7-2021.html
- https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/booster
- https://globalnews.ca/news/8459081/bc-covid-update-new-rules-omicron-dec-17-2021/
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/covid-restrictions-bc-dec-21-2021-1.6294027
A note on Surveillance
- Sequenced = whole genome sequencing (WGS) – complete genome analyzed, used to confirm specific VOCs and to detect new VOCs.
- Screening = VOC PCR testing – identifies known mutations but cannot identify new VOCs.
- PCR methods can utilize the S gene target failure (SGTF) marker for Omicron or target specific mutations (e.g. Δ69/70, N501Y). The N501Y mutation may also be found in Alpha, Beta, or Gamma, but not Delta, which is the dominant variant in Canada.
- Sequencing is required to confirm the variant as these targets are not specific to Omicron (PHO)
- Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick perform sequencing on samples that test positive for SARS-CoV-2. The other regions have agreements with other provinces or send their samples to the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) (Virusseq.ca)
- Wastewater surveillance limitations include lack of standardized methods for sampling or testing. As a result, the data must be interpreted with context (site, sources, testing methods and clinical epidemiology of the area being sampled) and in collaboration with utilities, laboratories and public health (PHO)
A note on control
- The Government of Canada determines the rules for entering Canada, including individuals who are fully vaccinated. Restrictions vary depending on which country you are travelling from.
- The descriptions regarding travel for each province and territory outlines the additional measures that may be required for those travelling to or from these provinces and territories.
A note on prevention
- Moderately and severely immunocompromised: each jurisdiction has a list of eligible conditions at the provided link
- Interval refers to the minimum time frame necessary after second dose to be eligible for third/booster
- Some jurisdictions clarified between a third dose and a booster shot, others have not.