Overview
- The federal government extended temporary Ebola border measures on Friday, Aug. 28, to Sept. 28, keeping a 21‑day quarantine for recent travellers from the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan and an entry ban for foreign nationals who were in the DRC within 21 days.
- An Interim Order under the Aeronautics Act remains in force to stop carriers from boarding affected travellers bound for Canada and to enforce the quarantine and isolation rules at ports of entry.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will keep processing applications but will not finalize visas or residency documents for people who listed the three countries as their last residence, a pause that has left tens of thousands of permanent and temporary applications on hold.
- Ottawa says the risk to Canadians is low and points to $8 million in international assistance and a Moderna‑led vaccine trial authorized in Canada on Aug. 4 as part of its response, while the WHO and public‑health experts say blanket travel bans run counter to international guidance.
- The measures come as the DRC faces a fast‑growing outbreak of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus with thousands infected and deaths reported, and aid groups warn the rules hinder humanitarian work and keep families apart.