Cabinet followed the science in repealing the last travel-related mask and vaccine mandates, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said yesterday. The remark came as one federal scientist warned hospitalization rates remained high with “continued growth” of infections this fall..“We followed the recommendations of public health experts, doctors and scientists,” Trudeau told reporters. “We will continue to monitor the situation and follow the science,” he said..According to Blacklock's Reporter, cabinet said effective Saturday, October 1 it will repeal a requirement that Canadians wear masks in-flight and at airports. The mandate, the first of its kind, was imposed April 20, 2020..Cabinet on Saturday will also suspend enforcement of Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements that air and rail travelers show proof of vaccination. Mandatory use of the $19.8 million ArriveCan vaccination app for cross-border travelers is also suspended..“The pandemic is not over, you know,” said Dr. Howard Njoo, deputy chief public health officer. “The virus will obviously be with us for quite some time and I think we need to continue to manage as the virus continues to evolve.”.Dr. Njoo did not cite any new science justifying the end of mask and vaccine mandates. Cabinet was earlier faulted for failing to detail scientific data justifying the introduction of restrictions in the first place..“Numbers of people in hospital are slow to decline and remain elevated,” said Dr. Njoo. “With contact rates increasing and more time spent indoors this fall we could see continued growth of this trajectory.”.Covid hospitalizations cost taxpayers $23,000 on average, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos told reporters. “If anyone has doubts as to whether COVID-19 still exists I would invite that person to visit a hospital anywhere in Canada,” said Duclos..Public Health Agency figures yesterday showed 4,399 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized nationwide. The number peaked at 10,759 last January 24. From the outbreak of the pandemic a total 2.6 million Canadians were hospitalized and 44,992 died..“As we move indoors this fall and winter we do expect an increase in COVID-19 cases,” said Minister Duclos. “Why remove the measures right now?” asked a reporter. “We have seen the data,” replied Duclos, adding that infection by cross-border travel was “insignificant.”.“We’re moving away from a coercive environment which has created pressures and difficulties for air travelers and air workers in particular,” said Duclos. “Air workers have faced over the last few weeks, we have heard from the industry, difficulties in making sure that coercive measure were being followed by all travelers.”.Transport Minister Omar Alghabra did not comment on industry protests. “We’ve all worked together to follow the guidelines,” said Alghabra. “We’re taking another step to returning to the normal travel that connects families, workers and our communities.”
