The ban, put in place in March as part of sweeping measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, will now remain in place until at least July 31, confirmed a Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) spokesperson.
“To protect Canadians and to ease the potential burden non-essential travellers could place on our health care system and its frontline workers, the CBSA has implemented travel restrictions across all ports of entry in all modes of transportation — land, sea, air and rail,” said the CBSA’s Rebecca Purdy in an e-mail. “All travel of an optional or discretionary nature, including tourism and recreation, is covered by these measures.”
The Order in Council states that “[a]ny foreign national is prohibited from entering Canada if they arrive from a foreign country other than the [U.S.].”
Some exceptions include members of air crews, immediate family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents, those providing an essential service while in Canada and certain health-care professionals.
This order was reportedly set to expire on June 30, at 11:59 p.m. (ET).
A separate order banning travel into Canada from the U.S. for non-essential reasons such as “tourism, recreation or entertainment” is set to expire July 21.
On June 30, the CBSA also put out a news release as a reminder that the restrictions will remain in place for the July 1 and July 4 holidays celebrated by Canadians and Americans, respectively.
“The [CBSA] is reminding all travellers, ahead of the … holidays, that travel restrictions are still in place at all Canadian international border crossings,” it states, going on to note that the government “remains committed to protecting the health and safety of Canadians and reducing the spread of COVID-19 in Canada.”
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