If the current trend in vaccination rate and public health conditions continue, Canada could start allowing fully vaccinated Americans and permanent residents as of mid-August for non-essential travel and might also welcome fully vaccinated travelers from all countries by early September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday after talking with the leaders of Canada’s provinces, Toronto Star reports.
Trudeau noted the ongoing discussions with the US on reopening plans, indicating that Canada could start allowing fully vaccinated US citizens and permanent residents for non-essential travel as of mid-August. He added that Canada would be in a position to welcome fully vaccinated travelers from all countries by early September if the current positive path of vaccination rate and public health conditions continue.
Canada will also allow large cruise ships to visit starting as of November, but they must fully comply with public health requirements. Trudeau announced he would share more details on the border early next week.
Trudeau noted that Canada, with some 78% of people aged 12 years or that have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and about 44% of people 12 years or older that are fully vaccinated, leads G20 countries in vaccination rates.
More than 5,500-miles of the US – Canadian were closed to nonessential traffic by the both countries’ governments in the early days of the pandemic with Canada starting to ease its restrictions earlier this month, allowing fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents to return home without quarantining but with a negative test for the virus before and after returning.
Each month the border is closed costs $1.5 billion, according to the estimates of the US Travel Association estimates, although commercial traffic has gone back and forth normally between the two countries since the start of the pandemic.
Canadians are allowed to fly into the US with a negative COVID-19 test.
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