Maple News reports that the United States has extended its existing travel restrictions for Canadian visitors crossing the border by land and ferry, reaffirming strict entry protocols as COVID-19 cases rise due to the spread of the Delta variant.
A new federal notice issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirms the restrictions will remain in effect until at least August 21 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The extended closure went into effect at midnight on July 22, marking yet another month of limited cross-border movement.
Notably, these restrictions come just days after Canada announced it would allow fully vaccinated American tourists to enter starting August 9. In contrast, the U.S. has opted to maintain a more cautious approach, citing ongoing health risks from the pandemic both domestically and globally.
“The Secretary has determined that the risk of continued transmission and spread of the virus associated with COVID-19 between the United States and Canada poses an ongoing specific threat to human life or national interests,” the official notice states.
The restrictions apply to land crossings and water-based travel including passenger rail, passenger ferries, and recreational boat traffic. Air travel between Canada and the U.S. remains unaffected, as do cargo rail and sea transport routes.
Only those deemed to be undertaking “essential travel” are permitted to enter via land or ferry. Essential travelers include U.S. citizens and permanent residents returning home, individuals seeking medical care, students, cross-border workers, emergency responders, commercial truck drivers, government officials, and military personnel with their families.
Conversely, trips made for tourism, social visits, leisure, or cultural events remain classified as non-essential and are currently prohibited at land and ferry crossings.
The decision to maintain restrictions appears to be driven by growing health concerns. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the highly contagious Delta variant now accounts for more than 80% of new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. In comparison, Canada has seen a steady decline in infections, reporting just 396 new cases on July 20 — levels not seen since August 2020.
The U.S.-Canada land border has remained largely closed to non-essential travel since March 2020, shortly after the declaration of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Despite growing vaccination rates in both countries, the U.S. government is taking a conservative stance on reopening its borders, prioritizing public health and containment of the virus.