Photo: LARS HAGBERG / AFP / Getty Images
Canada reopened its land borders on Monday to US citizens who are vaccinated with the full regimen and present a negative test of the COVID – 19 , after 17 months with border posts closed to all trips considered non-essential.
Canada has also announced that as of September 7, the reopening will be extended to travelers from the rest of the world with the complete guideline of the four vaccines allowed by the country: AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.
From early hours early Monday morning, Hundreds of private vehicles from the United States were visible crossing the Rainbow International Bridge, one of the busiest border points, located in the town of Niagara Falls.
Before entering Canada, US travelers must submit their travel information, including vaccination documents and negative COVID test results – 19 , using the ArriveCAN mobile application . Travelers can also submit their information with 72 hours in advance through a website.
US travelers admitted to the country will no longer be required to be tested for COVID- 19 at the entry points to the country, as required up to now.
In addition, Canada expanded as of today from four to nine the number of airports in the country where aircraft from the United States can land.
In 2019, about 15 million of Americans traveled to Canada, generating about 11, 000 million Canadian dollars (8, 740 million US dollars), one fifth of the country’s total tourism revenue.
But Canada and the United States decided in March of 2020 to close their land border, which has an extension of 8, 900 kilometers , to all trips considered not essential to contain the spread of COVID – 19 , which was a serious blow to the Canadian tourism sector.
Destination Canada, the public body that promotes tourism in Canada, anticipates that this year US tourists will contribute some 800 million Canadian dollars (636 million US dollars) to the domestic economy.
The measures in force as of today also allow minors under 12 years that have not been vaccinated enter the country without the need for a quarantine if they arrive accompanied by parents with the complete vaccination schedule.
Also as of today, French citizens residing on the island of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, a French territory located in the Atlantic off the coast of the Canadian island of Newfoundland, may enter Canada if they are fully vaccinated.
Last week, health authorities warned that they might recommend again border closure if there is a abrupt increase in COVID cases – 19 in the country.
According to data from the American Johns Hopkins University, Canada registers 1. 44 million cases and more than 26, 000 deaths from COVID – 19.
With information d e Efe.
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