Transport Canada says an increase in positive test results from travellers arriving in Canada from Morocco over the past month is causing it to suspend all direct commercial and private passenger flights from the North African country.
The ban took effect Sunday, 29AUG and will last until at least 29SEP.
As for indirect arrivals, pax from Morocco who arrive in Canada via a 3rd country will be required to obtain a valid COVID-19 pre-departure test from that country before continuing their journey to Canada.
The third-country testing requirement also came into effect on Sunday at the same time as the direct flight ban.
Transport Canada’s announcement states that the move comes on the advice of the Public Health Agency of Canada, to prioritize, “the health and safety of Canadians by continuing to take a risk-based and measured approach to (Canada) re-opening its borders.”
Morocco is not alone.
A flight ban from India to Canada remains in place, with similar pre-departure test requirements for indirect flights. The flight ban from India initially took effect in APR and has been rolled over in monthly extensions. It’s currently set to expire on 21SEP.
Despite these two bans and a surge of new cases in the U.S., the government of Canada began to permit fully vaccinated Americans to enter Canada on 09AUG.
Canada is set to admit fully vaccinated international travellers to Canada on 07SEP without quarantines and some testing requirements.