U.S. extends land border restrictions with Canada, Mexico at least until September 21

U.S. extends land border restrictions with Canada, Mexico at least until September 21

The United States is keeping Canadian and Mexican tourists out for at least another month, as per the announcement of the Department of Homeland Security Friday.

“To minimize the spread of #COVID19, including the Delta variant, the United States is extending restrictions on non-essential travel at our land and ferry crossings with Canada and Mexico through September 21, while continuing to ensure the flow of essential trade and travel,” DHS Tweeted Friday.

The United States has extended this restriction on a monthly basis since it was first implemented in March 2020. By that time, Canada and Mexico also closed their borders to leisure travelers to limit the spread of the virus. 

On August 5, the White House announced it would require inbound travelers to be fully vaccinated as part of its international borders reopening plan. However, the date of such reopening still remains unknown.

It’s important to notice that this decision does not impact in any way air and land travel into Canada or Mexico. 

Since August 9, Canada has been allowing its fully vaccinated American neighbors to fly and drive into the country for leisurely reasons. Mexico has been doing the same for almost the entire pandemic.

With the new prohibition extending further than the end of the summer season and the number of coronavirus cases spiraling out of control across the territory, airline officials believe it will be weeks and even months before the U.S. lifts its travel restrictions, according to Reuters. 

The U.S. is currently seeing an average of more than 11,000 new hospitalizations for COVID-19 per week, and “it might reach a record high within a month,” the CDC has warned. Unfortunately, Data for the CDC seems to back up the airline sector. 

US Flag and Canada Flag on Rainbow Bridge

For now, the U.S. health care systems are reporting an increasing influx of patients flooding ER rooms due to the massive spread of the highly infectious Delta variant.

On the bright side, the CDC has also reported that the average pace of those starting vaccination is more than 70% higher than in July.