Just two days after the prime minister made an exception for travel between Canada and the U.S. while restricting other international travel, there is a move to ban non-essential trips between the two countries to try to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted this move early Wednesday morning, saying by "mutual consent" non-essential travel will be restricted but trade won't be affected.
We will be, by mutual consent, temporarily closing our Northern Border with Canada to non-essential traffic. Trade will not be affected. Details to follow!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2020
Richmond Coun. Harold Steves used strong words on social media over the weekend, urging the closure of the border, in light of the fact Washington State has several outbreaks. Steves suffers from asthma.
Time has run out. To #CloseTheUSBorder & flight closure is coming too late. #14DayQuarantine isn't mandatory. From isolated cases tracked from flights into Canada BC now has "clusters" in the community. I am over 70 with chronc asthma.
— ClimateChange Steves (@Harold_Steves) March 15, 2020
I AM GOING INTO SELF-REGULATING QUARANTINE https://t.co/E4hgOy6IvZ
B.C.'s Health Minister expressed his displeasure on Monday at the prime minister’s previous decision to allow Americans to cross over into Canada, given the outbreaks south of British Columbia.
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