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The federal government says it is extending a series of travel restrictions and rules intended to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the new year as case counts continue to steadily rise across the country.
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair and Health Minister Patty Hajdu say the rules, first enforced at the start of the global outbreak, will now be in effect until January 21, 2021 for travelers entering Canada from a country other than the United States.
Ministers say restrictions on visitors crossing the border from the United States are currently in effect until December 21, but could be extended.
Among the rules is the obligation for anyone entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days upon entering Canada.
But ministers also say they are trying to make it possible for “high-performance amateur sports organizations” to hold major international events on Canadian soil.
They say successful candidates should submit a public health plan and demonstrate that they have secured the support of provincial and territorial governments and health authorities.
The announcement comes as COVID-19 case counts have continued to rise, albeit at slightly lower levels than the record-breaking daily counts seen in several regions in recent weeks.
Public health officials in Quebec are reporting 1,395 new cases in the past 24 hours, while Ontario is reporting 1,708 new infections.
The provincial totals since the start of the pandemic are now 141,038 and 114,746 respectively.
Cases are also steadily increasing in Atlantic Canada, with New Brunswick reporting 14 new diagnoses on Sunday and Newfoundland and Labrador reporting four more infections.
Public health officials in Nova Scotia have registered 10 new cases, all in the central area of the province, which includes Halifax.
Manitoba authorities reported 365 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday and 11 new deaths, almost all linked to outbreaks in nursing homes.
The number of cases in Nunavut also increased by 13.
Canada’s top public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, said the highest infection rate is among people aged 80 and over, while other outbreaks occur in long-term care homes.
Both Quebec and Manitoba are reporting significant new outbreaks in such facilities.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on November 29, 2020.
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