The federal government and Canadian airlines have announced that air service to sun destinations are being suspended to protect Canadians from possible exposure to new variants of the COVID-19 virus.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement today.

Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing and Air Transat are cancelling service to all Caribbean destinations and Mexico starting this Sunday and until April 30.

Arrangements will be made to help Canadians currently vacationing down south to get home.

Prime Minister Trudeau says fewer than two per cent of all cases of COVID-19 in the country are related to Canadians coming back into the country, proof he says, that Canada’s travel restrictions are working.

The United States has now imposed similar travel restrictions to those in place in Canada since March of last year.