Jul 5, 2021 - Health

Canada begins easing U.S. border pandemic restrictions

Rebecca Falconer

A duty free store at the Canada-U.S. border in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Quebec, Canada, on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. — A duty free store in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Quebec, Canada, at the border with the U.S. Photog: Christinne Muschi/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday the gradual easing of pandemic restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border.

Driving the news: Trudeau told a news conference this would begin Monday with the lifting of a 14-day quarantine requirement for Canadian residents fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The measure has been in place since March last year.

These residents will also no longer be required to stay in a government-approved hotel for their first three days back in Canada.

Yes, but: The easing of the rules does not apply to fully vaccinated U.S. residents as Trudeau wants to keep the border shut until at least 75% of Canadians are fully vaccinated.

What he's saying: "We're very hopeful that we're going to see new steps on reopening announced in the coming weeks," Trudeau said at the news conference in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

"We're going to make sure that we're not seeing a resurgence of COVID-19 cases because nobody wants to go back to further restrictions, after having done so much and sacrificed so much to get to this point."

By the numbers: Nearly 67% of Canada's population has had at least one coronavirus vaccine dose, official figures show.

Just over 27% have been fully vaccinated against the virus.

What to watch: Canada's restrictions barring nonessential travel with the U.S. will remain in place until at least July 21.

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Canada begins easing U.S. border pandemic restrictions

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