US and Canada border to remain closed for another 30 days
This Saturday the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau said that the border with the United States will remain closed for another 30 days for nonessential travel.
Since the United States started their period of quarantine in mid-March, the border with Canada has been closed and this Saturday it was announced that it will remain that way for another 30 days. The news came when the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the border with the United States will remain closed to non-essential travel and that without a doubt it will be longer before the restriction is removed.
“The agreement is the same terms. It’s just extended for another 30 days. It will ensure we continue to get essential goods and services back and forth across the border,” Trudeau said.
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the US - Canada border will be among the first borders to open and said the two countries are doing well in containing the virus. So far the United States has the most cases and victims from the coronavirus in the world.
The US and Canada agreed last month to limit border crossings to essential travel amid the pandemic, but that agreement was due to expire this coming week. Nearly 200,000 people cross that border daily in normal times.
“We will continue to take the measures necessary to keep Canadians safe while ensuring the continued flow of our essential supply chains on which so many Canadians depend,” Trudeau said on Saturday.
Who can cross the border?
Essential cross-border workers like health care professionals, airline crews and truck drivers will still be permitted to cross. Truck drivers are critical as they supply grocery stores and medical goods in both directions. Much of Canada’s food supply comes from or via the U.S.
Canada sends 75% of its exports to the US and about 18% of American exports go to Canada. The US Canada's border is the world’s longest between two nations.