Price of travel insurance expected to go down as federal advisory lifts
The federal government has lifted its advisory against non-essential international travel and with the change, the price of insurance is expected to drop.
The warning had been in place since March 2020, but was replaced this week with a notice urging all travellers to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before a trip.
“Be aware that although you are better protected against serious illness if you are vaccinated, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19,” reads the new advisory.
Unvaccinated Canadians are still being told to continue avoiding non-essential trips to all destinations.
Experts believe the guidelines will make it easier and more affordable to get travel insurance.
“The travel insurance companies are working with their policies now to improve them and revise them with this new news,” explained Allison Wallace, a spokesperson for Flight Centre.
Wallace says it’s still too early to tell what that will mean for consumers.
“We don't know all the details yet, but we would expect that it will be easier and a little less expensive, hopefully, to get travel insurance now that the advisory has been lifted,” Wallace told CTV News.
Travellers will still need a negative PCR test within 72 hours of a planned entry into Canada. The federal government says it’s keeping a close eye on the border test positivity rate and will adjust advice as needed.
“The beginnings of the transition and away from the more blanket approach really recognize that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe outcomes," said Dr. Theresa Tam, the chief public health officer of Canada.
"So the illness, hospitalizations, and deaths. So in recognizing that, and in strongly recommending a full vaccine series, at least 14 days before traveling, we're essentially advising people to really be very mindful of that decision."
Tam is urging Canadians to continue to wear a mask and practice physical distancing.
“We're just beginning to come down on this fourth wave and we need to continue to exercise some degree of caution. But we'll be examining all of those layers of protection.”
Wallace says flights for the Christmas holiday season are already booking up quickly.
“The phones are ringing. We've definitely seen more demand. We've actually been seeing a lot of demand in the last month, but I would say in this past week, in particular, with all of the news around things opening up and the federal vaccination passport,” she explained.
She says the biggest demand is for sun destinations.
“The demand for sun destinations is very high. Demand for getting away at Christmas, also very high. So with this news, we expect that to be even bigger,” she said.
Wallace suggests booking sooner rather than later because there are fewer scheduled flights and seats available, and the demand is high.
Vancouver International Airport was bustling with excited travellers Friday morning.
Burnaby resident Leah Whiting was bound for Las Vegas.
“We're gonna have a great time. We plan to go to the Vegas Knight's game and we're gonna hit up the Raiders game as well,” Whiting said.
It’s her first flight since the pandemic began.
“I'm super excited. I can't wait,” she exclaimed.
Shannon Cupskey was also bound for Vegas and was excited to escape the rain.
“We just give ourselves lots of extra time. Figured that was what we should do. Everything has been a bit slower than it normally would, but it's been two years since I've been on a flight and I can't wait,” Cupskey told CTV News.
She said she felt lucky that the timing of her trip fell in line with the federal advice.
“One way or the other we were going, but we want to do it with people's blessings for sure,” said Cupskey.
All employees and passengers in the federally regulated air, rail, and marine transportation sectors will need to be fully vaccinated as of Oct. 30.
However, there will be a grace period until the end of November during which proof of a negative COVID-19 test will be accepted.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.
The House is on the brink of approving aid for Ukraine and Israel after months of struggle
The House is preparing in a rare Saturday session to approve US$95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.