Coronavirus data map shows importance of Canada-US border closure

COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. (Johns Hopkins University)

A COVID-19 data map reveals the importance of the border closure between Canada and the US, as cases south of the border continue to rise.

The Canada-US border remains closed until July 21 for all non-essential travel, but as cases continue to rise significantly south of the border, having the border remain closed for longer may be necessary.

Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering made the COVID-19 Dashboard publicly available and published a map that tracks the coronavirus infections globally.

See also:
- Canada and US extend border closure for another 30 days: Trudeau

The US is leading the world with confirmed cases, at 3,009,611 with 131,594 reported deaths while Canada has 108,032 and 8,765 reported deaths.

To date, there are 2,796 cases per million in Canada, and the US has 9,051 per million.

A Canadian physician took to Twitter responding to the map with “Please keep the border closed.”

Please keep the border closed…😟

Canada🇨🇦 #COVID19 cases: 105,536
2,796 Cases per million
230 Deaths per million

USA🇺🇸 #COVIDー19 cases: 2,996,027
9,051 Cases per million
401 Deaths per million pic.twitter.com/rjIsvoVQyf

— Dr. Jennifer Kwan (@jkwan_md) July 6, 2020

Back in June, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that a health expert told him it would not be wise to reopen the borders to the US and allow international travel.

He said a second wave could start when the borders reopen.

“I know it’s inevitable and we got to do it. I just don’t think we are ready right now. You see what’s happening down in the states; you look at Florida, you look at Texas, Arizona, California. I don’t want to be those states. I want to protect the people here in Ontario,” Ford said at the time.

“Believe I love the Americans but their COVID cases are spiking right now.”

On June 16, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the border would remain closed until July 21 to “keep both countries safe.”

In March, all non-essential travel was closed along the border. However, trucking and trade were not effected as maintaining commerce between the two countries was deemed essential for Canada’s economic recovery.