The Canadian-U.S. border will remain closed to “non-essential” travel until at least July 21, 2020. The transportation of trade goods remains exempt from this agreement.
“This is an important decision that will keep people in both of our countries safe,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday.
This is the third time the agreement between Canada and the U.S. to close the border to non-essential travel has been extended since it was first implemented in March. The move is not entirely unexpected given the current state of COVID-19 infections in the USA and recent outbreaks as states reopen.
Who can enter the Canada-U.S. border
- Canadian citizens and permanent residents
- Student visa holders
- Essential workers
- Work permit holders
- Immediate family of Canadian citizens and permanent residents
Anyone entering Canada must abide by the mandatory 14-day self-isolation quarantine. Anyone with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 will not be allowed to cross the border unless you are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
What comes next?
The U.S. has, as of writing this, over two million confirmed COVID-19 cases and 119 thousand deaths so far. There are concerns that as the U.S. struggles to contain the virus, Canada’s proximity will become a liability to our own efforts to contain the pandemic.
What happens next will depend on several metrics. The main factor being the American effort to contain the virus and what happens as states begin to lift COVID-19 restrictions to their economy.