Canada field hockey team stranded in South Africa set to return home
Strict travel rules by the Canadian government to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus Omicron variant prompted the national junior field hockey team to seek an exemption to return home.
The team was in South Africa for the Junior World Cup, which has been postponed due to the rise in Omicron cases.
For them to return home, they must take a molecular test in South Africa, such as a PCR test, then another test after landing in Germany – something German officials would not allow them to do.
The Canadian Government is now allowing team members to skip their tests in Germany and instead get tested as soon as they touch down in Canada.
Danielle Husar tells CTV News the team is thankful they can now return home.
“Then following that, (we will have to) do a 14 day quarantine,” said Husar.
“Those are the measures that we currently have to follow. It is understandable for the situation and we are all willing to do that as long as we can get home safely and as soon as possible.”
The players are from Ontario, BC and Alberta, including two University of Calgary students.
South Africa is one of ten countries under Canada’s travel ban.
Husar says the restrictions have taken a toll on her teammates.
“We had a lot of people back home sending messages to people in the high positions of power asking and demanding that these exemptions be made because we were being blocked out of our own country by these restrictions,” she said.
“So the fact they heard what we had to say, listened and put this exemption into place - is very reassuring.”
Husar says the team is booked on a flight for Wednesday through Lufthansa to return home.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Tesla recalling nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks because accelerator pedal can get stuck
Tesla is recalling 3,878 of its 2024 Cybertrucks after it discovered that the accelerator pedal can become stuck, potentially causing the vehicle to accelerate unintentionally and increase the risk of a crash.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.