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The U.S. announced on Thursday that it was extending the border restrictions with Canada and Mexico due to the coronavirus and the uptick in new cases due to the Delta variant.
The Department of Homeland Security said the borders will remain closed for nonessential travel until 21 August.
The Wall Street Journal noted that the July decision was the first time since March 2020 that the countries were not in “lockstep.” The report pointed out that Canada announced that fully vaccinated Americans can visit as of 9 August.
As we’ve reported in our 22 June article titled “COVID HYSTERIA: US-CANADA BORDER REMAINS CLOSED,” there has been significant backlash for Washington and Ottawa over the decision to keep these restrictions in place. U.S. Representative Brian Higgins, the co-chair of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus, took to Twitter at the time, and wrote, “There’s no other way to say it: another month’s delay is bullshit.”
Higgins, who is a New York Democrat, was joined by Rep. Bill Huizenga, a Michigan Republican, and blasted what they say was a “lack of transparency” surrounding the negotiations.
“While the arrival of vaccines in record time has been a modern marvel, the inability for U.S. and Canadian governments to reach an agreement on alleviating border restrictions or aligning additional essential traveler classes is simply unacceptable,” they said in a joint statement.
Travel Restrictions Extended
Yesterday the White House declared that travel restrictions would be extended beyond Mexico and Canada. The prohibited entry of people from the European Schengen area, United Kingdom and other countries that are currently in place will be extended.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at a press briefing yesterday:
“Given where we are today…with the delta variant, we will maintain existing travel restrictions at this point for a few reasons. The more transmissible delta variant is spreading both here and around the world. Driven by the delta variant, cases are rising here at home, particularly among those who are unvaccinated and appear likely to continue in the weeks ahead.”
In response to the extended travel restrictions, U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued a statement noting that “Covid variants are of concern, but closed borders have not prevented the Delta variant from entering the United States.”
They also noted that, “While other nations, like Canada, the U.K. and much of the E.U., have all taken steps to welcome inbound travelers this summer and rebuild jobs and local economies, the United States remains closed to one of the most important segments of the travel economy—the international inbound traveler.
TREND FORECAST: As we have long noted, many major cities, such as New York, depend on foreign tourism, especially in the hotel, restaurant, theatre and events sectors. The extended travel restrictions, renewed mask wearing mandates, vaccine passport requirements etc., will stifle economic rebounds across much of the globe.