COVID-19 Update for February 12 – 1:35PM

Vaccine Schedule

Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an updated schedule for the delivery of Pfizer vaccines. He confirmed that Canada will receive four million promised doses by the end of March. Combined with the expected Moderna vaccines, Canada should receive six million doses total by the end of March.

Despite earlier delivery delays, Minister of Public Services and Procurement Anita Anand confirmed that more than 400,000 doses are expected the week of February 15^th.

Pfizer will provide Canada with 10.8 million doses between April and June. The remaining doses will be delivered by the end of the third quarter for a total of 40 million doses from Pfizer.

The Prime Minister also announced that the federal government has come to an agreement with Moderna for an additional four million doses to arrive this summer.

This brings Canada’s agreements to an expected 84 million doses of both vaccines by the end of September. Any other vaccines that may be approved (AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson) will be in addition to these agreements.

Border Measures

Stricter border measures will soon be implemented for both air travellers and people who arrive through a land port of entry.

As of February 15^th, entry at a land point will require proof of a valid molecular COVID-19 test taken in the U.S. within 72 hours prior to arrival. As of February 22^nd, anyone entering at a land port of entry will be required to use a suitable quarantine plan prior to crossing the border, and will have to take two additional tests – one at entry and one at the end of a 14-day quarantine period. Exemptions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

For air travel, a COVID-19 molecular test is required as of February 22^nd both before exiting the airport and at the end of a 14-day quarantine period, as is a stay at a government-approved hotel for three nights while waiting for test results. Booking is available as of February 18^th.