Pearson Airport backtracks on policy to separate arrivals based on COVID-19 vaccination status

Officials atToronto Pearson International Airport say that travellers arriving from abroad will no longer be separated based ontheir COVID-19 vaccination status, reversing a decision put into place just last week.

"Toronto Pearson, in collaboration with government and other partners, has determined that separation of vaccinated and non/partially-vaccinated travellers in customs lines results in minimal operational efficiencies," said a spokesperson for theGreater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) in a statement to CBC News on Tuesday.

The revised policy took effect on July 26, the statement added. Entry requirements based on vaccination status will be enforced only once a passenger reaches a Canada Border Services Agency officer.

The GTAA hadannounced last weekend that international arrivals would need to queue in two lines before going through customs: one line for fully immunizedpassengers and another for those who are either partially vaccinated or unvaccinated against the coronavirus.

At the time, a spokesperson said the measure would "help streamline the border clearance process."

As of July 5, fully vaccinated travellers permitted to enter Canada are exempted from quarantine measuresand testing for COVID-19 on their eighth day post-arrival.

Travellers are still required to get a pre-entry test, a quarantine plan if not granted the exemption, and an arrival test.

There is also a requirements checklist that involves providing proof of vaccination in ArriveCan the government portal to submit vaccine information.

More information on the airports COVID-19 protocols is available on the airport's website.