FILE PHOTO: A U.S. Customs and Protection vehicle stands next to a sign stating that the border is closed to non-essential traffic at the Canada-United States border crossing at the Thousand Islands Bridge, to prevent the spread of the 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 fence for non-essential travelers, and air passengers arriving in Canada will be further tested for COVID-19 ahead of a hotel quarantine period, authorities said.
The land border restrictions, imposed in March 2020, have been extended until May 21. They have now been in effect for 13 months and will be renewed month after month. Mexico said late on Monday that it was also maintaining some of its border towers. read more
The US Department of Homeland Security said it was “in talks with Canada and Mexico about relaxing restrictions as health conditions improve.”
The restrictions have hit many border communities and businesses hard. Many US lawmakers have pushed for relaxation of restrictions or a roadmap to resume normalized travel.
But Canada is lagging behind the United States in coronavirus vaccinations, and much of the country is now fighting a virulent third wave of the pandemic with schools and businesses shutting down. [L8N2MD6F9] read more
Canada’s mandatory three-day hotel quarantine after airport testing, introduced as a temporary measure to discourage spring break travel, was also extended until May 21, health authorities said.
In February, Canada began testing and demanded international air arrivals to pay for a three-day hotel quarantine, a measure criticized by airlines pressured by the pandemic. There may be more flight restrictions.
“We will continue to look at more (measures),” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a press conference. “I asked our officials to look closely at what the UK has recently done with suspending flights from India, for example.”
Quebec’s Prime Minister Francois Legault also expressed concern Tuesday about international flights from India and Brazil – two of the world’s worst coronavirus hotspots.
Air travelers to Canada must be tested within three days of departure and then again on arrival. If the airport text comes back 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 arriving between February 22 and March 25, tested positive for COVID-19, raising doubts about a wide relaxation of restrictions before summer. travel season. read more
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