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HEALTH-VIRUS-CANADA-US-BORDER
Canada, US extend closure of shared border to March 21
OTTAWA, Feb 19, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Canada’s border with the United States
will remain closed to all non-essential travelers until March 21, Public
Safety Minister Bill Blair announced Friday.
“Non-essential travel restrictions with the United States have been
extended until March 21st, 2021,” he said in a Twitter message.
“We will continue to base our decisions on the best public health advice
available to keep Canadians safe from Covid-19.”
The border was initially closed in March 2020 to slow the spread of the
coronavirus.
The closure has been renewed monthly since then. Only trade in goods and
merchandise and essential travel are allowed.
The latest extension comes with new daily cases greatly reduced from a
month ago in both countries but more contagious variants of the novel
coronavirus posing an added threat.
The pandemic has claimed more than 21,000 lives in Canada and nearly
500,000 in the United States.
Effective Monday, air travelers to Canada will have to quarantine in
hotels at their own expense for up to three days under strict supervision
while awaiting the results of mandatory PCR testing.
If their test comes back negative, they’ll be permitted to complete their
full 14-day quarantine at home.
BSS/AFP/ARS/2053 hrs