Fully vaccinated U.S. travellers may be allowed into Canada by August, Trudeau says | Globalnews.ca

Canada could start accepting fully vaccinated travellers from the U.S. for non-essential travel by mid-August, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the country’s premiers Thursday.

If COVID-19 vaccination rates remain on their current trajectory, Trudeau added, then Canada could see fully vaccinated travellers from around the world begin to arrive by early September.

The comments were included in a readout of Thursday’s First Minister’s call provided by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Trudeau told the premiers that federal ministers will have more to say about reopening plans early next week.

Restrictions on non-essential travel at the Canada-U.S. border are set to expire on July 21. Under the plan revealed by Trudeau, the deadline may be extended one last time by 30 days before fully vaccinated travellers are allowed again.

The travel restrictions have been extended on a monthly basis for more than a year. Canada gradually began easing quarantine requirements July 5, but only for fully vaccinated citizens, permanent residents and other eligible travellers — though it does not apply to recreational travellers.

Trudeau noted to the premiers that nearly 80 per cent of Canadians who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccines have received at least one dose, while over 50 per cent are fully vaccinated with two doses.

More to come…

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