If you thought getting to the lower 48 by way of driving through Canada would happen soon…think again!
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to Global News Radio in Canada on how his country is committed to keeping the border closed until the U.S. gets control of COVID-19: “We have committed to keeping Canadians safe, and we keep extending the border closures because the United States is not in a place where we would feel comfortable reopening those borders. As I said from the beginning, we will continue to make sure that Canadian safety is top-of-mind when we move forward. We see the cases in the United States and elsewhere around the world, and we need to continue to keep these border controls in-place.”
Travelers can cross into Canada only for essential reasons, such as work and study. Critically, security officers at the Canadian-American border will determine whether a trip is for an essential reason. Travelers are encouraged to have documentation that demonstrates the purpose of travel. Under the Canadian rules, travelers can’t visit national parks or other tourism destinations.
At the border, drivers will be given a tag to hang from their rear-view mirror emblazoned with the date they must be out of the country. Failing to follow the new rules is punishable by fines of up to $560,000 and up to six months in prison.
USA Today reports that 13 states in the past week – including Alaska, Minnesota, Montana and North Dakota, (all of which border Canada) – have topped their own records for new cases in a seven-day period.
The border was initially set to reopen October 21.