Canada is extending the agreement to keep the U.S. border closed to non-essential travel to Oct. 21 during the coronavirus pandemic. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said Friday they will continue to base the decision on the best public health advice available to keep Canadians safe.
The restrictions were announced on March 18 and have been extended each month since.Many Canadians fear a reopening. The U.S. has more confirmed cases and deaths from COVID-19 than any country in the world.
Canada is seeing an uptick in cases in recent weeks. Canada largest province, Ontario, reported 401 new cases on Friday.
Canada in August extended the ban on international travel till September 30 in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Taking to Twitter, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said, “Our government is extending the existing restrictions on international travel to Canada by one month — until September 30, 2020 — to limit the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in our communities”.
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In June, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned that the COVID-19 pandemic remains serious in Canada.
On May 23, Trudeau had announced that his government was ready to track the contacts of those who test positive for COVID-19 by making tracing calls every day. Trudeau also expanded the scope of, and eligibility for the program since first promising it in March.
Essential cross-border workers like healthcare professionals, airline crews and truck drivers are still permitted to cross. Truck drivers are critical as they move food and medical goods in both directions. Much of Canada’s food supply comes from or via the U.S.
Americans who are returning to the U.S. and Canadians who are returning to Canada are also exempted from the border closure.