According to Canada, nearly 5,000 American tourists hoping to buy and sightsee in Canada were rejected at the Canadian border for four months. Figures from the Border Services Agency (CBSA) obtained by CTV.
Between March 22 and July 12, a total of 10,000 Americans were rejected from the Canadian border because of border restrictions established by both countries, which prohibit unnecessary travel during the coronavirus pandemic. Five thousand were turned down for shopping and sightseeing, and the other 5,000 were turned down for unspecified reasons.
“All people arriving in Canada at an air, land, sea or rail border will be asked about the purpose of their visit and whether they feel sick or ill,” CBSA spokeswoman Rebecca Purdy told CTV in a statement. .
Canada and Mexico have renewed border restrictions at 30-day intervals since March, with the latest measures in effect until July 21. An administration official confirmed to Politico this week that “it is almost a certainty” that they will be in place for another month.
According to the agency, they have issued fines to Americans who have violated the restrictions, including a Florida couple who visited the day before July 4 and failed to follow quarantine measures.
There is a loophole in the restrictions that allow Americans to drive through Canada to reach Alaska, although some people have been surprised to stay in Canada while doing so.
“If you are coming from outside Canada, understand all the efforts that Canadians have made within Canada to flatten the curve and make sure that transmission of the virus is as low as possible,” Deputy Director of Public Health Howard Njoo told CTV.
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