The federal government is asking Canadians to avoid all non-essential international travel as the spread of the Omicron variant accelerates.
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos made the announcement Wednesday after a meeting with the prime minister and the premiers.
Duclos said the advisory is necessary to protect the hospital systems throughout the country.
"To those who are planning to travel, I say very clearly, now is not the time to travel. The rapid spread of the Omicron variant on the global scale makes us fear the worst for Canadians that may think of travelling," said Duclos. "Travelling Canadians could contract the virus or get stranded abroad."
The federal government said it is also working with provinces and territories to rapidly deploy more rapid antigen tests and increase booster shot availability.
"Our window of opportunity is small but we have the power to change the course. Collectively and individually we all have a role to play and the keyword for us citizens and government is again the same, prudence," said Duclos.
On top of what has already been provided to the provinces, the federal government is spending $1.7 billion to procure another 180 million rapid tests which will be given to the provinces to distribute free of charge.
