Canada fines travelers for forged vaccine cards and test results

• Two individuals who traveled from the US to Canada had fake vaccine cards and COVID-19 testing documents.
• Canada has fined the duo C$19,720 ($16,000) each.
• The country had loosened requirements for vaccinated travelers on July 5.

Two travelers from the US to Canada were fined after officials discovered that their documents proving COVID-19 vaccination and testing were forged.

Canada has fined the duo C$19,720 ($16,000 or £11,500) each.

The travelers, whose identities or itineraries were not identified, arrived in Canada during the week of July 18, the Public Health Agency of Canada stated. Upon arrival at the Toronto airport, inspectors found their testing documents and vaccine cards to be fake.

According to the health agency’s statement to Newsweek, the pair were Canadian citizens.

The travelers had uploaded fake documents to Canada’s ArriveCAN travel website, said the Canada Border Services Agency, which inspects the authenticity of travel documents.

The agency declared, “The Government of Canada will continue to investigate incidents reported and will not hesitate to take enforcement action where it is warranted to protect the health of Canadians from the further spread of Covid-19 and its variants of concern.”

The report comes as Canada had loosened requirements for international travelers on July 5, provided that they show proof of vaccination. Meanwhile, unvaccinated travelers are required to undergo several tests, stay in a government-run hotel for three days, and then quarantine for 14 days.

Starting on August 9, vaccinated Americans will be allowed to travel to Canada. However, the US border with Canada and Mexico remains closed until August 21.

Several countries have started to reopen foreign travel.

On Monday, the UK removed the quarantine requirement for vaccinated travelers from the US and EU.

But as the delta variant continues to spread across the world, countries continue to change their travel restrictions depending on the severity of the situation.

Source: BBC