By Canadian Press

Conservatives call for border restrictions in face of new COVID-19 variant

Nov 26, 2021 | 10:58 AM

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole has called for the government to immediately strengthen border screening in the face of a highly mutated new variant of COVID-19.

The World Health Organization will meet today to discuss variant B.1.1.529, which originated in South Africa.

Several nations around the world have already moved to stop air travel from southern Africa.

O’Toole has called on the Canadian government to issue travel advisories, banning non-essential travel to and from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini.

The party also wants to see mandatory screening at all international airports from affected counties, regardless of vaccination status and mandatory quarantine for all travellers from those countries. 

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2021.

Laura Osman, The Canadian Press