For more than a year, the longest international border across the globe is closed.
As per Bloomberg, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has started working on opening the Canada-US border.
But, talks are just getting begun, and reopening the border may not happen anytime soon.
An option is to implement a new system that permits those who have been vaccinated to travel between the two nations without having to undergo COVID-19 testing or the necessary 14-day quarantine. According to a person who spoke to Bloomberg anonymously, this is being explored.
This is in keeping with Health Minister Patty Hajdu’s announcement that Canada will examine using “vaccine passports” to permit vaccinated persons to travel. There are some hurdles to overcome initially, such as the required steps for persons who have been vaccinated using vaccines that have not been approved by the Health Ministry of Canada.
Canada is collaborating with the European Union to synchronize its strategies, according to Trudeau. The European Union has been striving to remove internal bans on travel.
In an attempt to stop the transmission of COVID-19, the Canada-US border was blocked in March 2020, and only essential travel was permitted. The border shutdown had an economic impact on the country, as projected. The tourism and airline industries were struck very severely.
The border openings will be in steps/gradually. That will also be determined by the number of active cases in both nations.
The third wave of the pandemic has affected Canada worse than the US. This is due to a vaccine rollout being slowed in Canada due to supply concerns. Trudeau affirmed that a large chunk of the population in the country will be fully immunized by September. In recent days the country’s vaccine program has gained traction, and it currently has one of the highest vaccination rates per capita among OECD countries.
What are the requirements for travelers?
Travel bans for all nations, including the United States, are likely to be extended later this week, certainly until the opening is completed.
Only four Canadian airports will continue to allow international flights: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary. Travelers who are exempted from the travel bans will be required to produce proof of a COVID-19 test done within 72 hours of their arrival in Canada. They’ll have to undergo another test when they arrive, and they’ll have to stay in a government-approved accommodation for three days during the waiting period.
Furthermore, the individuals will be subject to a 14-day quarantine period. The three-day stay in the hotel can be applied to your quarantine period. Travelers are obliged to take the third test on the eighth day.
The quarantine will not be required for essential travelers. That includes truck drivers, emergency responders, specific technicians/specialists, residents of trans-border communities, and people who go and come across the border for jobs on a regular basis.
Who is now permitted to fly to Canada?
Only a confined number of individuals are permitted to enter Canada till the border is reopened. Citizens/permanent residents of Canada, and close family members, are exempted.
Travel bans are also waived for some temporary workers and overseas students visiting an educational institution with a COVID-19 preparation plan. Protected individuals and those who come to Canada for humanitarian reasons are also exempt. Visit the gov website for a complete list of people who have an exemption to enter the country.
Officers from Canada’s border services have the last decision on who is admitted into the nation.
