DRIVING PHOTO: A U.S. customs and protection vehicle stands next to a sign stating that the border has been closed to non-essential traffic at the Canada-United States border crossing at the Thousand Islands Bridge, to combat the spread of coronavirus disease ( COVID-19) in Lansdowne, Ontario, Canada 28 September 2020. REUTERS / Lars Hagberg / File Photo
Canada and the United States on Tuesday extended a closure to the country for non-essential travelers, and air passengers arriving in Canada will still be tested for COVID-19 before a hotel quarantine period, authorities said.
The land border restrictions, introduced in March 2020, have been extended to 21 May. It is now 13 months long and is renewed month by month. Mexico said late Monday it also maintains some of its border curbs. read more
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said it was “working with Canada and Mexico on easing restrictions as health conditions improve.”
The restrictions have hit many border communities and businesses hard. Many U.S. lawmakers have insisted on easing the restrictions or resuming a roadmap to resume normalized travel.
But Canada is holding out to the United States against coronavirus vaccinations, and much of the country is now fighting an ominous third wave of the pandemic with the closure of schools and businesses. [L8N2MD6F9] read more
Canada’s mandatory three – day hotel quarantine after tests at airports, set as a temporary measure to discourage travel during the spring break, has also been extended to 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 for the pandemic. More flight restrictions are possible.
“We continue to look at more (measures),” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a news conference. “I have asked our officials to take a closer look at what, for example, the United Kingdom has been doing recently with the suspension of flights from India.”
Quebec Premier Francois Legault on Tuesday also expressed concern about international flights from India and Brazil – two of the world’s worst coronavirus hotspots.
Air travelers to Canada must have passed a test within three days of departure, and then again upon their arrival. If the airport text is negative, they can complete 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, raising doubts about a broad relief from the restrictions before the summer travel season. read more
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