U.S.-Canada Border to Remain Closed Until At Least May 21
by Daniel McCarthy /
The land border between the United States and Canada will remain closed to nonessential travel through at least May 21, 2021.
Canada’s Public Safety Minister Bill Blair made the announcement on Tuesday, writing that “we will continue to base our decisions on the best public health advice available to keep Canadians safe from COVID-19.”
“As cases rise and variants of concern continue to emerge across the country, we will continue to do what it takes for as long as it takes to keep Canadians safe,” Blair wrote on social media.
The border has been closed to nonessential travel since March 2020, a period that will soon reach 400 days, and residents from both countries are still awaiting a plan to reopen the border.
Last month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the border reopening will happen “eventually, but not for today.”
“Canada’s first priority will always be ensuring the safety and security of our citizens,” he said, adding that there are “ongoing discussions” about the border.
There had been rumblings that U.S. President Joe Biden was looking toward the middle of May to relax restrictions on travel across both the northern border with Canada and the southern border with Mexico, but nothing has been revealed as of yet.
Canada is still requiring all international visitors entering the country to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days, with those who have been vaccinated and those who test negative still required to undergo the mandatory two-week period.