Stuck in South Africa, new travel rules endanger this Canadian’s return trip for vacation

“It’s actually a particularly sensitive time,” Neumann, a Canadian living in South Africa, said in a CBC interview. The House which aired on Saturday. His son has just started university in Toronto, his first year away from home, he explained. And there are other pressing concerns.

“My wife’s dad is very sick. He’s 80 years old. He’s undergoing chemotherapy … Also, my mom is 91. She’s sort of in cognitive decline. I haven’t seen her for two years. “he told host Chris Hall.

“And there’s still a question mark in my mind: will I be able to say goodbye?” Neumann said.

Neumann has lived in Johannesburg since 2015. He was planning to return to Canada for the holidays when new travel restrictions were put in place for travelers from 10 countries, mostly in southern Africa. Canadians attempting to return from these countries must now meet a series of additional testing and quarantine requirements.

Travelers must undergo a COVID-19 molecular test prior to departure 72 hours before departure, which Canadians are now accustomed to, but this test must be done in a third country – not one of the 10 on Canada’s list . Neumann was planning to take a test when connecting in Germany, but additional rules put in place there made that impossible.

Conflict between Canadian and German restrictions

A letter Neumann received from the Canadian High Commission in South Africa said German airline Lufthansa would not allow Canadians to board due to this third-country testing requirement and restrictions put in place by the ‘Germany.

Neumann’s situation is very similar to that of the Canadian junior field hockey team, which is also stranded in South Africa. The team requested a waiver to leave the country.

Neumann said he was struck by what he said was the “cavalier” way the government responded to questions from would-be travelers whose plans and restrictions have thrown them into limbo.

He also says the restrictions themselves don’t make sense given what we now know about the spread of the omicron variant.

“It just seems such a disproportionate response to southern Africa compared to the rest of the world that you have to question the motives,” he said.

In an emailed response to CBC News, Global Affairs Canada said that country’s entry requirements are aimed at ensuring the safety of Canadians. He said the implementation of restrictions could disrupt travel plans but that “the decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the individual.”

“We can confirm that we are receiving reports from Canadians abroad affected by these new measures,” the statement said.

Debate on the effectiveness of the travel ban

In a separate interview on The HousePublic Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said the restrictions are being implemented to give Canada time to assess the risk of the omicron variant and to “protect the progress” the country has made against the pandemic .

“I recognize that we are at a time when there will be challenges, but we have put public health measures in place because of the worrying variant.”

WATCH | New travel restrictions are plunging travel plans into chaos:

Omicron variant renews travelers’ uncertainty

Uncertainty surrounding the omicron variant and new COVID-19 testing and isolation requirements have some wondering if international travel is about to be disrupted again. 2:04

The travel measures put in place by Canada and other countries have been the subject of much criticism, growing evidence that the new variant was circulating in several countries before South African researchers discovered it for the first time at the end of November and that travel restrictions were imposed.

Part of the debate has centered on the effectiveness of the travel restrictions themselves, with some experts saying they’re not doing much to stop the spread of a new variant. The South African president called them “unscientific” and “discriminatory”.

Mendicino said the restrictions on the 10 countries were not politically motivated, but rather science-based.

“We are doing it because we want to protect Canadians. This is not their first go-around. We’ve done this exercise before and want to make sure we’re making the right decision when it comes to protecting the health and safety of Canadians, ”he said.

WATCH | Debate on the effectiveness of travel restrictions:

Travel bans unfairly target country that identified omicron variant, specialist says

Dr Samir Gupta, pulmonologist and associate professor at the University of Toronto, says travel bans to prevent the spread of the omicron variant may save time, but penalize countries that identify new viral variants. 7:52

For a medical officer of health in Canada, bans are of some help, but should not be the top priority of the government.

“You know, the honest truth is that it would probably have a limited impact overall, but it could help slow the introduction of omicron,” said Dr Lawrence Loh of the Peel Region, home to the Toronto Pearson International Airport.

For Neumann, it is clear that the travel bans are not justified.

“When we now know that it is also everywhere else in the world, it suggests that the poorest countries are at a disadvantage, certainly compared to Europe, Canada and the United States,” he said. .

Despite the challenges so far, Neumann has now booked a flight for next Friday and describes himself as “somewhat optimistic” that his travel plans will work.