Canada and US extend border closure for another 30 days

Canada and the US have agreed to extend their COVID-19 border closure for another 30 days, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters Saturday.

The land border has been closed to non-essential travellers since March 21. 

“This is another example of the excellent collaboration between our two countries,” Trudeau said.

Transport truck drivers and others bringing essential goods over the border are still allowed through. Indigenous people whose communities straddle both sides of the border are also still allowed to cross.

“We made the decision a number of weeks ago to close our borders to international travellers. This was a significant measure, but an important one to prevent COVID-19 from coming in from overseas,” Trudeau said.

“We included the US in this measures, because these are measures we put in place around the world. We did take a couple more days to ensure we were properly coordinated with our neighbour and … trading partner.”

Trudeau has previously said the border will remain closed as long as it needs to be to stall coronavirus spread.

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On Saturday, the prime minister also announced the federal government will be distributing $306 million to help Indigenous businesses during the pandemic.

He closed his remarks by acknowledging coronavirus restrictions are tough to deal with, and asked people to persevere so the nation doesn’t lose the progress it’s made containing its spread.