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Canada sets 75% vaccination rate as target for border reopening

File Photo / WBFO News

Canada is set to announce loosening some border restrictions Monday and provide a solid timetable when other restrictions will be lifted.

In an interview with the CBC Sunday, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents will be allowed to cross into the United States, but the government aims to reach a vaccination rate of 75% before fully reopening the border between Canada and the U.S. for nonessential travel.

This comes after Ottawa announced Friday it would be continuing existing restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border for at least another month, except for some for those who are fully vaccinated. As of Monday morning, the national vaccination rate was 19 percent.

The shift in policy comes after heated pressure from both sides of the border and as many Canadian provinces have hit key vaccination targets.

Ontario is reporting nearly 20% of its residents have been fully vaccinated. The province has used up nearly all of its vaccine supply, but just received enough to give 89% of its population a single dose.

Several other provinces have already given at least one dose to that key 75% target of residents.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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