The Canadian government said on Tuesday that its border restriction measures are effective as the travel ban with the US has been extended.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended Ottawa’s protection efforts, but warned that bans could be imposed on entry flights from certain countries, such as India.
The ban on non-essential travel between the US and Canada has been extended until at least May 21, as Canadian provinces are considering domestic travel boards to stop the growth of Covid-19, including new variants of the disease.
“As cases escalate and there are concerns across the country, we will continue to do what is necessary – as long as necessary – to keep Canadians safe,” Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said on Tuesday. from Canada.
Canada’s top doctor said more than 66,000 “cases of concern” had been reported across Canada. Most are the B.1.1.7 variant first seen in the UK.
“These are the tip of the iceberg, as there are many thousands of other Covid-19 cases that have tested positive for problematic mutations,” Theresa Tam, chief public health officer, said on Tuesday.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 1,131,773 cases of Covid-19, including 88,327 active cases and 23,667 reported deaths in the country.
Canada has extended restrictions on passengers flying into the country, which requires testing for Covid-19 and subject to mandatory hotel quarantine.
In February, the Trudeau government said air passengers landing in Canada would be tested for Covid-19 and then subjected to a three-day hotel quarantine at their expense while awaiting results. This adds to the display of a negative coronavirus test before boarding.
Health Canada, a federal agency, said about 1% of air travelers are positive while in a quarantine hotel.
The agency said 117 flights arrived at Canadian airports, where at least one passenger tested positive, with 20 arriving from the United States. Another 24 come from Europe, while 29 come from Delhi.
British Columbia imposes travel restrictions in the province to ensure only essential travel between the province’s five health regions. “We are in a serious situation,” said John Horgan, the provincial prime minister.
Separately, Manitoba commercial truck drivers who travel regularly to the United States will now be able to take a jab in adjacent North Dakota.
The agreement, considered to be the first such cross-border vaccine agreement, could eventually be extended to include other key workers, such as healthcare providers.
“The United States has many vaccines, and Canada has fewer,” North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum said Tuesday. “We want to do our part to help those key Canadian workers who travel frequently through our state.”