Jonathan Likongo had planned to visit his family in Kinshasa this summer after two years in Montreal, but concerns about travel restrictions led him to stay in Canada.
The decision proved wise as Canada implemented temporary entry restrictions for certain foreign nationals from central African countries due to the Ebola outbreak. Foreign nationals who had visited the Democratic Republic of Congo within the last 21 days were also barred from entry.
These measures, in place until August 29, have posed challenges for students, including Likongo, who were unaware of the restrictions during the holiday season.
Impact on Students
Several universities in Quebec are grappling with the effects of these restrictions, with hundreds of students from affected countries facing uncertainties in their academic plans.
For instance, Université de Montréal has 170 new students from the D.R.C. or Sudan for the upcoming semester, in addition to 182 current students from these nations. Université Laval and Université du Québec à Montréal are also assisting affected students with various options.
Future Outlook
With the current measures set to expire on August 29, students stranded outside Canada are anxious about what lies ahead.
Health Canada stated that they are closely monitoring the Ebola situation and will decide on the next steps before the expiry date. Likongo, like many others, hopes for a quick resolution to the situation so that he can reunite with his family soon.