Canada and U.S. Are Looking to Close Travel ‘Loophole’
The US-Canada border remains closed and all nonessential travel is prohibited until at least February 21. But, in the 10 months since the border restrictions were put in place, hundreds of thousands of travelers have traveled between the two countries as air travel has not been subject to the same restrictions.
“A loophole, frankly, does exist because the Americans previously had not placed any restriction on international flights coming into the US,” said Bill Blair, Canada’s public safety minister, during a news conference, CNN reports.
Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau has acknowledged that constitutionally he cannot prevent Canadians from traveling. But, while visiting the United States for now could be an option, he did warn that it might soon become much more difficult to return to Canada.
International air travelers who currently enter Canada must show proof of a negative test result for Covid-19 taken within 72 hours of departure and are also subject to a 14-day mandatory quarantine with violators facing stiff financial penalties.
The loophole has allowed travel by air so far, but Canadian officials say they are looking to put more measures in place and are hoping for a new agreement with the United States.
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In practice with the 14 day quarantine upon arrival to Canada, not much leisure traveling is happening. And the Canadians actually take it seriously, compared to the ham handed “quarantines” attempted in New York and Los Angeles.
lets not get high and mighty. Toronto has seen a lot of anti-mask protests lol. Canada’s cases are fewer because of geographical isolation of rural communities and having 1/10th the population of the united states.