Close X
Monday, December 2, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canada-U.S. travel ban extended: DHS

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Jul, 2020 06:21 PM
  • Canada-U.S. travel ban extended: DHS

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says Canada and the United States have agreed to extend their mutual ban on non-essential travel between the two countries until Aug.20.

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf confirmed the news in a tweet earlier today.

The Canada-U.S. border has been closed to so-called "discretionary" travel like vacations and shopping trips since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of the continent in mid-March, an agreement that had been set to expire July 21.

The extension comes with COVID-19 resurgent across the U.S. — cases are on the rise in all 50 states, and southern states like Florida, Arizona and California are facing a fresh crisis with overcrowded hospital wards, refrigerated truck trailers serving as makeshift morgues and another shortage of personal protective medical gear.

The escalating emergency has also exposed a deep divide between Canadians dead-set against reopening the border and U.S. lawmakers in northern border states who continue to press both countries for a blueprint for doing exactly that.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called the extent of the pandemic in the U.S. a "constantly evolving" situation, but won't say whether officials have considered extending the border restrictions beyond the standard 30-day window.

"Based on the success of the existing restrictions and close collaboration with Mexico and Canada, (the Department of Homeland Security) will continue to limit non-essential travel at our land ports of entry with Canada and Mexico until Aug. 20," Wolf tweeted.

MORE National ARTICLES

A look at COVID-19 cases for US, India, and BC

A look at COVID-19 cases for US, India, and BC
COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the US and India but the numbers for BC are being tackled. BC Health Minister Adrian Dix worried about the jump in cases in certain US states. 

A look at COVID-19 cases for US, India, and BC

Sex assault, luring charges approved after girl alleges attack in Burnaby, B.C.

Sex assault, luring charges approved after girl alleges attack in Burnaby, B.C.
Charges have been laid against a man from Burnaby, B.C., after the RCMP investigated an alleged sexual assault of a child. The RCMP say a girl, whose age has not been released, and her mother reported the allegations to police on May 7.

Sex assault, luring charges approved after girl alleges attack in Burnaby, B.C.

Online portal to connect buyers and sellers of COVID-19 supplies launched

Online portal to connect buyers and sellers of COVID-19 supplies launched
The federal government is launching a web-based portal to help connect buyers and sellers of protective equipment used to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Online portal to connect buyers and sellers of COVID-19 supplies launched

Technical hiccup interrupts Supreme Court as virtual hearing gets underway

Technical hiccup interrupts Supreme Court as virtual hearing gets underway
It seems even Canada's top court isn't immune to the digital gremlins that meddle with online meetings. The Supreme Court of Canada plunged into the world of virtual video hearings Tuesday afternoon to keep the wheels of justice grinding during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Technical hiccup interrupts Supreme Court as virtual hearing gets underway

Conviction for teen 'swatter' stands despite length of case, court rules

Conviction for teen 'swatter' stands despite length of case, court rules
The conviction of a teenager for the hideous practise of "swatting" must stand even though it took three years from his arrest to completion of his trial, Ontario's top court ruled on Tuesday.

Conviction for teen 'swatter' stands despite length of case, court rules

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says police misconduct is indefensible

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says police misconduct is indefensible
Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says police officers who use excessive force or appear to be discriminating on the basis of race need to be held to account.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says police misconduct is indefensible