(Image source from: cnn.com)

While United States is gradually on the path to reopening, gradually opening up the states with imposed restrictions, it is likely that the borders with Canada and Mexico are still going to be closed until it’s completely safe.

Both Canada and USA have agreed to extend the ban on the non-essential travel between the two countries by an additional 30 days for fighting and containing the further spread of the novel coronavirus. The decision was done collaboratively among Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Donald Trump.

Trudeau regarded the border as a source of vulnerability at this point, which is why the 30-days extension is the best decision at the moment. The restrictions on the borders were announced first on March 18, which was then again extended in April.

The provincial leaders in Canada were for this decision, which is why it was implemented accordingly, said Trudeau.

This is to ensure that people in both the countries are safe.

While President Trump has not officially announced anything regarding the extension, the US Department of Homeland Security chief Chad Wolf reported on Tuesday that the Trump administration is currently in talks to extend all the non-essential travel restrictions in both Canada and Mexico.

Wolf further reported that they want to do a close check on the kind of medical facilities and treatments that have been administered in Canada and Mexico. They also wanted to keep an eye out on whether or not the countries have reached their peaks. He further said that the last thing that US needs is to reopen their economy and have people cross borders with no proper identification.

Trump has reported that both US and Canada have been doing well in containing the spread of the virus and controlling the pandemic. But, Canadians are still afraid of the reopening. Even with the per capita number of confirmed cases and deaths is less in US, it is still leading with the maximum numbers in the world.

The essential cross border workers including the health professionals, airline crew and the truck drives are permitted access to cross the borders. The truck drivers are one of the most crucial workers as they help transport medicines and food across the countries. Majority of the food supply in Canada comes in from US.

The Americans just returning to US and the Canadians just returning to Canada are also barred from crossing the borders.

In terms of the export results, Canada sends around 75% of the its exports to US and 18% of American exports go to Canada. The US-Canada border is the world’s longest between two nations.

While Canada has reported over 78,000 confirmed cases till now, US has already surpassed over 1.5 million cases.

By Somapika Dutta