Trudeau Says Border Restrictions To Remain In Place Until COVID-19 Under Control

TORONTO (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 02nd December, 2020) Canada will not lift border restrictions until the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control globally, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in an interview on Tuesday.

"Until the virus is significantly under more control everywhere around the world, we are not going to be releasing the restrictions at the borders," Trudeau told state broadcaster CBC.

Addressing the ongoing restrictions on non-essential travel between Canada and the United States, Trudeau said that the flow of goods between the two nations remains intact but that the cap on exchange of travelers is crucial at this juncture.

The prime minister added that despite the projected change in leadership in Washington and President-elect Joe Biden's new approach to the pandemic, the US remains a way's off from getting the pandemic under control.

The Canadian government extended restrictions on non-essential visits of foreign travelers until January 21 on Sunday, citing the surging number of coronavirus cases in the country. Travel restrictions between Canada and the US remain in force until December 21.

All non-essential travel between the United States and Canada has been halted since March 20.

As of Tuesday, Canadian authorities have reported over 380,000 coronavirus cases and more than 12,100 virus-related deaths. There are more than 66,037 active cases across Canada, according to the country's public health agency.