Canada will begin allowing fully vaccinated Americans across the border for non-essential travel beginning mid-August, according to multiple media reports.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reportedly told the country’s premiers Thursday of Ottawa’s plans to further loosen border restrictions.
The world’s longest undefended border has been closed to non-essential travel since the outset of the pandemic in March 2020.
But earlier this month, the federal government loosened restrictions slightly for fully vaccinated Canadians and eligible travellers entering the country on essential business.
Since July 5 those travellers have been able to skip mandated quarantine so long as they can produce a negative pre-departure test for COVID-19 as well as a negative test upon arrival.
Trudeau has said previously that fully reopening the border will depend on getting more Canadians fully vaccinated.
As of July 16, COVID-19 Vaccination Tracker reports 69% of eligible Canadians have received at least one dose while 47% are fully vaccinated.
COVID-19 Vaccination Tracker’s data is based on data provided by provincial and territorial governments.
Current border restrictions on non-essential travel between the U.S. and Canada are due to expire on July 21. Those ongoing restrictions have been renewed repeatedly throughout the course of the pandemic.
Trudeau is expected to publicly announce the new travel measures next week, according to multiple media reports.
