US-Canada border to close Saturday: What it means for travelers

The United States’ border with Canada will be closed to nonessential travel beginning Saturday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at a Friday press briefing. The border closure will be reviewed after 30 days, Pompeo said. 

The announcement comes two days after President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mutually agreed to close the border to help contain the spread of coronavirus.

“We will be, by mutual consent, temporarily closing our Northern Border with Canada to non-essential traffic. Trade will not be affected,” Trump tweeted Wednesday.

“I just spoke to President Trump again this morning and we have agreed that both Canada and the United States will temporarily restrict all nonessential travel across the Canada-U.S. border,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a news conference on Wednesday morning.

Border closures: Trump announces U.S.-Mexico border will also shut down

Trudeau, who is in the midst of a 14-day self-quarantine after wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau tested positive for coronavirus, also stressed that “essential travel” won’t stop. “Our governments recognize that it is critical we preserve supply chains between both countries,” Trudeau said. These supply chains include the passage of food, fuel and medicines reach people in both countries. Trucking won’t be affected, for example.

U.S. flights headed to Canada will continue as scheduled, though passengers will face screening, according to the U.S. State Department. Those arriving must self-isolate for 14 days, and anyone exhibiting symptoms won’t be allowed to enter Canada.

But travelers won’t be permitted to cross the border for recreation and tourism, Trudeau explained.

Processing thousands of people per day puts border agents at increased risk for contracting COVID-19 and passing it along to others.

CBP employees have been permitted to use protective equipment, such as masks, in appropriate circumstances.

Both the U.S. and Canada border agencies have reported increasing their questions at entry about international travel and health to spot ill travelers during the spread of the coronavirus.

Canada’s border agency has been updating its Twitter account with steps it is taking during the pandemic as well as information on mitigating the spread of the virus.

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