Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos and other Canadian health officials are expected to provide an update on the country's response to COVID-19 as concerns mount over a new variant, B.1.1.529, which was first detected in South Africa.

The Conservative Party on Friday morning called on the Liberal government to take new measures, including to put in place a ban on non-essential travel to and from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini, which have been affected by the variant.

The update comes a week after the government announced as of Nov. 30, fully-vaccinated people returning to Canada will no longer be required to provide a negative PCR COVID-19 test if their trips are shorter than 72 hours.

During last Friday's press conference, Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino also announced that as of Jan. 15, 2022, people who are currently exempted from entry requirements to Canada will no longer be allowed in without being fully vaccinated.

Those include people coming to Canada to reunite with family, international students, professional and amateur athletes, people with valid work permits and essential service providers.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/8404034/covid-vaccine-mandates-ipsos-poll/

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