Canada extends entry ban for foreigners
Borders with the US won't open either.
Foreigners will not be able to enter Canada without a valid reason for at least another month — until May 21. This was announced by the Minister of Public Security Bill Blair. He also said that the authorities of Canada and the United States have agreed that the land border between the countries will also be closed for non-essential travel for the time being.
The restrictions have been extended every month since Canada closed its borders in March 2020.
"As the number of cases grows and new, more dangerous strains spread across the country, we will continue to do whatever it takes to keep Canadians safe," Blair wrote on Twitter.
The procedure for entry into the country also remains in place until May 21. Passengers arriving by plane must show the COVID-19 test on landing, then take the test again after arrival, wait for the result at the quarantine hotel and then stay on self-isolation for as long as the total quarantine period is 14 days.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has updated travel guidelines and urged U.S. residents not to travel to Canada because of the spread of COVID-19.
The situation in Canada is indeed worrisome, especially in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, where the number of infections per day has been steadily rising recently. The federal government is facing criticism for not adopting stricter border controls, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the country's current measures have been effective so far and will remain flexible going forward.
