(Washington) The White House is actively exploring how Americans will once again welcome foreign visitors as businesses on both sides of the world border increase pressure on Congress-elected candidates – including evidence of unrest in the United States that is unpopular in the United States.
White House officials confirmed Thursday that task forces are considering the need for travel certification from travelers to find a better way to ease travel restrictions imposed at the outset of the outbreak.
U.S. Executive Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said citing the highly contagious delta type as a key factor in the White House’s cautious approach.
“In the current context of delta variation, we plan to maintain travel restrictions for now,” he added. However, our intermediate groups are focused […] Develop a plan for an integrated and secure international travel policy. ”
However, two key questions remain unanswered on Thursday: when the restrictions could begin to ease, and whether the current debate will cover all the asymmetric measures currently in place from Canada.
At the White House, “international travel” usually refers to “continent-to-continent” visitors from many foreign countries, including China, India, Ireland, Iran, and Africa. 26 European countries in the south, Brazil and the Schengen area. Although so-called “non-essential” travel from Canada has been banned at land border crossings since March 2020, most Canadians arriving by air, rail or boat during an outbreak are exempt from these restrictions.
On the other hand, land boundary rules will be further redirected when Canada allows U.S. citizens and permanent citizens to enter the fully vaccinated country on Monday. The UK has also eased restrictions on vaccinated Americans. But while nearly 70% of eligible Canadians have been fully vaccinated and 81.7% have received at least one dose, the United States has not reciprocated between the two countries.
“We can’t live in fear of a percentage of people who are constantly reluctant [à se faire vacciner]Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Montreal on Thursday. That is why we will try to return to normal life: first we will start accepting fully vaccinated tourists from the United States and other countries. ”
Impatient business people
D.R. Theresa Tom, Canada’s chief public health officer, said the delta variant would probably pose a greater threat to the country than those coming to the United States. Movements will be closely monitored to allow the government to quickly fix the fire if necessary, he said.
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D.R. Theresa Tom, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada
Meanwhile, respondents on both sides of the Canada-US border have exhausted their patience while waiting for something similar from the US Department of Homeland Security. A coalition of U.S. and Canadian business leaders, led by the North American Competitiveness Strategy, senior leaders in the US Congress should demand that the Department of Homeland Security fully reopen its capabilities.
The Coalition is particularly concerned about “major delays” at the border, with customs officials checking the vaccine status and the results of passengers’ COVID-19 tests at land border crossings. They believe the U.S. Border Service Agency “does not appear to have developed a plan to safely reopen land entry points without major delays.”
By MMe Neither Zackie nor Jeff Sciences, the White House coordinator of the entire struggle against Govt-19, mentioned Canada during their respective press conferences on Thursday. But they have made it clear that now is not the time to remove the restrictions altogether. The task force, comprising officials from Canada, Mexico, the European Union and the United Kingdom, is exploring a “phase approach” that includes evidence of vaccination.
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