Canada-U.S. land border closure extended a month

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The Canada-U.S. land border closure has been extended, yet again.

The border will stay closed to all-but-essential travel until at least Oct. 21. The news was first confirmed in a tweet from U.S. Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf.

“We continue to work with our Canadian and Mexican partners to slow the spread of #COVID19,” he writes on social media. “Accordingly, we have agreed to extend the limitation of non-essential travel at our shared land ports of entry through October 21.”

We continue to work with our Canadian and Mexican partners to slow the spread of #COVID19. Accordingly, we have agreed to extend the limitation of non-essential travel at our shared land ports of entry through October 21.

— Acting Secretary Chad Wolf (@DHS_Wolf) September 18, 2020

Canada Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair also confirmed the news, adding, “We will continue to base our decisions on the best public health advice available to keep Canadians safe.”

Canada also confirming border restrictions extended by another month #cdnpoli https://t.co/D6sAoeTOaC

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) September 18, 2020

Most experts — at least on this side of the border — will likely want to see the travel restrictions extended beyond that as COVID-19 numbers in the U.S. continue to be sky-high compared to ours.

Related article: Longer Canada-U.S. border closure ‘realistic’ approach: immigration lawyer

The border closure was first brought in in March as case numbers surged. It has been extended a number of times since.

The current agreement was set to expire on Sept. 21.