Amid the summer plans to reunite with his family in Kinshasa after two years away, Jonathan Likongo, a student at Université de Montréal, opted to stay in Canada, fearing travel restrictions upon return. Canada’s temporary measures, initiated in May, restricted entry for certain foreign nationals from central Africa due to the Ebola outbreak. The restrictions were further tightened in July, barring entry for foreign nationals who had visited the Democratic Republic of Congo in the previous 21 days. These measures are in effect until August 29.
The timing of these restrictions has been challenging for students, including Likongo, who had intended to travel during the holiday break. Several universities in Quebec report that hundreds of students from countries affected by the measures are impacted, both those currently enrolled and those planning to start programs in the upcoming fall semester.
Universities like Université de Montréal, Université Laval, and Université du Québec à Montréal are actively working with affected students to navigate the situation. Options such as deferring admission, remote learning, or delayed program start dates are being offered to mitigate the impact on students’ academic pursuits.
With uncertainty looming beyond August 29, students stranded outside Canada are left wondering about their next steps. Health Canada indicates that it is closely monitoring the Ebola outbreak and will decide on future actions based on evolving evidence and international collaboration before the current measures expire.
For Likongo and others like him, the inability to see their families due to these circumstances is deeply disappointing. However, they remain hopeful for a swift resolution and the containment of the disease so that they can reunite with their loved ones soon.