Canada to Bar Most Foreign Nationals Recently in Congo but Exempt Citizens and Residents

Canada will deny entry to foreign nationals who have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the past 21 days, the Public Health Agency of Canada said Sunday. The measure begins Monday at 11:59 p.m. ET and continues through August 29.

The agency said the step is intended to reduce public health risks and support safer processing of returning travelers, including humanitarian workers. It described the action as an abundance of caution. Canada's travel health notice for Congo remains at Level 3, advising against non-essential travel.

Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and those registered under the Indian Act who have visited Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan in the prior 21 days may still enter but must undergo a health assessment on arrival and quarantine for 21 days. The agency stated that the overall risk of Ebola to Canadians remains low and that no travel-related cases have been reported in the country.

Government data released earlier this month showed 2,011 confirmed Ebola cases in Congo, including 754 deaths.

The World Health Organization reported that more than 100 health-care workers have been infected since the outbreak began. In late May, Canada had already suspended immigration documents for citizens of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.