FILE PHOTO: A U.S. Customs and Protection vehicle stands next to a sign that says the border is closed to non-essential traffic at the Canada-US border crossing at the Thousand Islands Bridge, to combat the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Lansdowne, Ontario, Canada, September 28, 2020. REUTERS / Lars Hagberg / File Photo
Canada and the United States on Tuesday extended a land border closure for non-essential travelers, and air passengers arriving in Canada will continue testing for COVID-19 before a hotel quarantine period, authorities said.
Land border restrictions, imposed in March 2020, have been extended until May 21. Now in effect for 13 months, they are renewed month by month. Mexico said Monday afternoon that it also maintained some of its border boundaries. Read more
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said it was “involved in discussions with Canada and Mexico about reducing restrictions as health conditions improve.”
The restrictions have severely affected many border businesses and communities. Many U.S. lawmakers have called for easing restrictions or establishing a roadmap to resume normalized travel.
But Canada lags behind the United States in coronavirus vaccines and much of the country is now battling a third virulent wave of the pandemic with school and business closures. [L8N2MD6F9] Read more
Canada’s mandatory three-day hotel quarantine after testing at airports, which was introduced as a temporary measure to deter spring holiday travel, also extended until May 21, health authorities said.
In February, Canada began testing and requiring international air arrivals to pay for a three-day hotel quarantine, a measure criticized by airlines pressured by the pandemic. More flight restrictions may arrive.
“We continue to study more measures,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a news conference. “I have asked our officials to look closely, for example, at what the UK has done recently in suspending flights from India.”
Quebec Prime Minister Francois Legault also expressed concern Tuesday about international flights from India and Brazil, two of the world’s worst hot spots for coronavirus.
Air travelers to Canada are required to have completed a test within three days of departure and then again on arrival. If the airport text turns negative, they can end up with a 14-day quarantine at home.
However, data obtained by Reuters showed that more than 1,000 passengers, or 1.5% of those who arrived from February 22 to March 25, tested positive for COVID-19, which raised doubts. on a wide reduction of restrictions before the summer travel season. Read more
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