U.S. delaying border reopening is safer for Canadians, says infectious disease specialist
The American government announced Wednesday that it is extending its ban on Canadians crossing the land border until at least Aug. 22, even though two days earlier the Canadian government declared fully vaccinated American tourists were welcome to cross into our country as of Aug. 9.
Although many on the streets of Victoria told CTV News they didn’t think it seemed fair that the agreement for land borders wasn’t reciprocal, B.C.’s premier said Wednesday he didn’t think many folks were keen to head to the United States on holiday anytime soon.
“I rather doubt that people will be lining up in big numbers to be heading south, until they feel well and truly that the pandemic is behind us,” said Horgan.
Meanwhile, Brian Conway, the head of the Vancouver Infectious Disease Centre, says the idea of staggering the opening of the border is a wise one.
Conway says having Canada’s border open first will allow us to see how many cases occur here as a result. He notes that even if people are vaccinated, they can still get and pass on COVID-19, and some negative tests will likely be false amongst those Americans entering Canada.
He says it makes sense to open the borders in a phased approach, because travel to the United States — where vaccine rates are lower and cases are rising — is much more risky than having visitors here.
"Because you will be having vaccinated Canadians going into an environment where half or more of the population is not vaccinated," said Conway on Canadians heading south.
He also notes that the U.S. locations that many Canadians will want to visit on holiday, liked California, are spots that Americans from all over their country will also want to visit, many of them coming from states where vaccination rates are relatively low.
Although Canadians can still fly into the U.S., having the land borders closed is inevitably going to impact weekend road trips to Seattle, including at Mariners baseball games, said Len Saunders, an immigration lawyer based in Blaine, Wash.
“The Blue Jays are not going to have the home team support in Seattle that they're usually expecting,” he said.
On the other hand, local tourism businesses in Victoria are excited to see Americans on vacation here in less than three weeks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Manitoba mom praises quick-thinking fire department for freeing daughter stuck in playground equipment
A Manitoba mother is praising firefighters for their quick work in helping her daughter who got stuck at a playground in Lorette, Man.