Ottawa vows update on COVID-19 border rules next week: ‘The worst is behind us’

COVID-19 border measures and expect to announce changes to the rules next week, said federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.Duclos spoke in a pandemic update alongside Dr.

Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, who said the worst of this wave appears to be over.“Canada is past the peak of the Omicron wave,” Tam said, in a press conference that saw officials offering more information on a decline in cases across the country after roughly 20 to 25 per cent of the country became infected by the Omicron variant.“The worst is behind us,” Duclos added.Officials also emphasized that the highly infectious nature of Omicron means border controls have a limited impact because cases are already transmitting in Canadian communities.But they said it remains important to be aware that any changes may have to be reassessed in the event of future variants, and that the coronavirus will likely continue evolving.“Unfortunately, there may be more surprises,” said Duclos.The rapid spread of Omicron across the country began in late November 2021 and saw cases surge to record highs, sparking the imposition of tougher lockdowns in a bid to slow the spread.

Tensions have flared as Canadians struggle with pandemic exhaustion and frustration, and a number of provinces have begun lifting restrictions over recent weeks.Those provinces, including Alberta and Saskatchewan, say the moves are fuelled by a desire to learn to live with COVID-19.Alberta ended its vaccine certificate system earlier in the week, as the number of people hospitalized with the virus continued to decrease slightly.

Alberta and Saskatchewan resist calls for new restrictions as Omicron numbers rise In Saskatchewan, Premier Scott Moe announced Tuesday that the.