Air travellers to Canada on flights originating from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macao are no longer required to provide evidence of a COVID-19 test result before boarding.

The removal of the testing protocol went into effect on Friday (March 17), meaning there are no longer any federal COVID-19 border measures in place, according to the federal government

The temporary pre-testing border requirement was put into place on Jan. 5 in response to a surge of COVID-19 in the People’s Republic of China.

The government says that since Canada and other countries implemented the measures, data from China, the international community, and wastewater sampling conducted in Canada, have not detected any new variants of concern.

In addition, it adds that the COVID-19 situation in both China and Canada has improved, and the Canadian healthcare systems remain stable.

The Canadian office of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) welcomed the news, with HKTB Director for Canada Michael Lim stating, “Along with the relaxation of most travel restrictions in Hong Kong and the elimination of the city’s mask mandate, it is now more convenient for Canadians to visit Hong Kong. We look forward to welcoming our Canadian friends to immerse themselves in our rich culture, thriving arts scene, world-class dining, and breathtaking outdoors.”