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Another 30-day extension expected for US-Canada border crossings

Peace Bridge
File Photo
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WBFO News
Peace Bridge

The Canada-U. S. border is set to remain closed well into December. A Canadian source speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly confirmed the 30-day rollover of the closure that was set to expire on Friday.

Visits such as vacations, day trips and cross-border shopping excursions have been forbidden since March in an effort to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. The mutual restrictions have been jointly extended on a monthly basis by the two countries ever since they were first imposed.

The travel ban does not apply to those who must cross to ensure the continued flow of goods and essential services, including truckers and hospital staff. Canada has also added certain exemptions to reunite extended family members.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the ban won't be eased until there is clear evidence the COVID-19 pandemic is slowing in the United States, which is it is clearly not. The U.S. is setting daily records for new cases and hospitalization rates, and the death toll is tracking toward 250,000.

Ontario cases are also rising. The province on Wednesday reported 1,417 new cases of COVID-19 and 32 more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus. Health Minister Christine Elliott said 410 cases are in Toronto, 463 cases are in Peel Region and 178 are in York Region.

The province said it has conducted 33,440 tests since the last daily report. In total, 535 people are hospitalized in Ontario due to COVID-19, including 127 in intensive care.

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.
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