Pandemic travel restriction between the United States, Canada and Mexico have, again, been extended for another month, the Department of Homeland Security said, preventing any vacation or leisure travel across America’s borders.
“To reduce the spread of COVID-19, the United States is extending restrictions on non-essential travel at our land and ferry crossings with Canada and Mexico through July 21, while ensuring access for essential trade & travel,” DHS announced on Twitter Sunday, a day before coronavirus travel restrictions between the three countries were scheduled to lift.
- Nonessential travel to Canada and Mexico includes tourism and recreational travel, according to DHS, while crossing the border for essential trade and business is still allowed.
- “DHS also notes positive developments in recent weeks and is participating with other U.S. agencies in the White House’s expert working groups with Canada and Mexico to identify the conditions under which restrictions may be eased safely and sustainably,” DHS added.
Travel restrictions began in March 2020
Nonessential travel through America’s northern and southern borders was originally suspended in March 2020, as the governments began implementing a wide range of coronavirus restrictions at the beginning of the pandemic.
- Since then, federal authorities have been extending the travel restrictions in monthlong intervals.
- “In order to limit the further spread of coronavirus, the U.S. has reached agreements with both Canada and Mexico to limit all non-essential travel across borders. Working closely and collaboratively, the Department of Homeland Security is part of a North American approach to stop the spread of the virus,” DHS said last year.