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The Canadian government has approved a raft of heightened precautionary measures in response to the growing risk of Ebola in several African countries. These measures include a mandatory three-week quarantine, along with a temporary freeze to process immigration applications from affected countries.
The Canadian authorities have announced the implementation of exceptional health protocols to address the risk of the spread of the Ebola virus, as all arrivals from endemic areas will be subject to a mandatory twenty-one-day quarantine period. Ottawa identified the list of countries covered by these measures, which include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Uganda, stressing that these measures will remain in force until August 29. In official statements, he pointed out Luc Brisboa, Executive Director of the Border and Travel Health Center of the Canadian Public Health Agency, indicated that any traveler showing signs of illness will undergo immediate medical procedures at the competent hospital institutions. The competent authorities will also provide isolation facilities for people who do not have suitable places to apply home quarantine, in order to ensure the safety of the community and travelers alike. As part of the additional measures, the Government decided Canada shall suspend the decision on immigration files submitted by citizens of the aforementioned countries for a period of ninety days, with the possibility of reviewing this decision in accordance with epidemiological developments. Canadian officials justified these steps by the need to take “extreme precautions” in light of the marked escalation of cases of the virus in the northeastern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Source: Al-Wehda Al-Arabia News Portal
