Canada will deny entry to foreign nationals who have visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the past 21 days, the government announced, as the country battles a deadly Ebola outbreak that has killed 828 people. The border measures take effect at 11:59 p.m. ET on July 20.
Canadian citizens and permanent residents returning from Congo will still be admitted but must undergo health screening and a mandatory 21-day quarantine. Individuals who violate the restrictions face fines of up to 150,000 Canadian dollars, while companies could be penalized up to 1.5 million Canadian dollars. The requirements remain in force through Aug. 29.
As of July 15, Congo had reported more than 2,100 confirmed Ebola cases. No travel-related cases have been detected in Canada. The World Health Organization has advised against travel restrictions, saying the risk of international spread remains low.