Coronavirus: Americans first as Canada plans opening border to vaccinated foreign travellers
- Canada sets August 9 border opening for vaccinated US visitors, September 7 for other vaccinated foreigners
- Pressure has been rising on Canada’s government from the ailing tourism sector
Canada announced on Monday it will begin letting fully vaccinated US citizens into Canada on August 9, and those from the rest of the world on September 7.
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, who said he spoke with US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Friday, said the US has not yet indicated any plan to change current restrictions at the land border. Canadians are able to fly into the United States with a negative Covid-19 test.
Asked in Washington if the US would reciprocate, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said: “We are continuing to review our travel restrictions. Any decisions about resuming travel will be guided by our public health and medical experts. … I wouldn’t look at it through a reciprocal intention”.
Canadian officials also announced that children who are not vaccinated but are travelling with vaccinated parents will not have to quarantine, but will have to avoid group activities including schools and day care centres.
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra also said a ban on direct flights from India will be extended to August 21 because of the Delta variant. “The situation in India is still very serious,” he said.
Canada leads G20 countries in vaccination rates, with around 80 per cent of eligible Canadians vaccinated with their first dose and over 50 per cent of those eligible fully vaccinated.