In the week after Canada opened its borders to fully vaccinated travelers, the volume of foreign nationals entering the country increased by about 20%.

Between August 30 and September 5, 79,886 foreign nationals entered Canada. During the week of September 6 to 12, 95,381 travelers entered the country.

In July, the Canadian government announced that anyone fully vaccinated with a Health Canada-approved vaccine may enter the country for leisure or discretionary purposes beginning September 7 if they follow the COVID-19 screening requirements.

Foreign nationals who want to enter Canada must complete the full series of vaccines at least 14 days before their arrival. Travelers must submit proof of vaccination via the ArriveCAN app or website.

Acceptable proof of negative COVID-19 status includes a molecular test result taken within 72 hours of their flight and another test upon arrival. Travelers may also show proof of their vaccinations, including the manufacturer, lot and dates of receipt.

In June and July, only 15,000 to 45,000 foreign nationals entered Canada. Commercial air volume of foreign nationals averaged about 70,000 in August.

The increase corresponds with the lifting of travel restrictions for discretionary purposes. In August, Macdonald-Cartier International Airport in Ottawa and Jean Lesage International Airport in Quebec City relaunched international flights.

Though authorities welcome the increase in foreign nationals entering Canada on commercial flights, the current traveler volume remains much lower than the average of 326,000 foreign travelers entering per week for the same time period of 2019.

On Tuesday, Transport Canada announced that the ban on direct flights from India will be lifted on September 26. Travelers must cooperate with increased screening measures upon their arrival.

For the week of September 18 through 25, Canada averaged 4,600 new cases of COVID-19 each day. In April and May, the nation counted about 10,100 daily cases.

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