Canada and the US - is the border sealed?
Niagara's chief medical officer thinks it's too risky to open the borders between Canada and the U.S. this summer.
A senior public health official in the Niagara Region (Ontario), Dr. Mustafa Hirji, said he would like to see the border between the United States and Canada remain closed until the fall. Even though local business leaders and politicians are calling for the opposite to support the region's tourism-oriented economy.
Travel restrictions between Canada and the United States end on July 21. However, the rules, which made exceptions for crossing the border for trade, work and study, changed several times during the pandemic.
Borders may not open
According to Dr. Mustafa Hirji, the risk of opening the border this summer is too great. "I think opening the border will put us at particular risk," Hirji said, "especially with the spread of the new Delta strain that has already been reported in parts of the Midwest United States.
Hirji also noted that Canada has been fairly successful in controlling the spread of coronavirus infection compared to other countries, and removing border measures too early could reverse that progress.
Hirji said he will recommend that the government extend the border closure this month. The situation could be reviewed in the fall so that both countries have extra time to vaccinate the largest number of people.
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