Fully vaccinated Canadians won't have to quarantine returning home

PLATTSBURGH | Starting July 5, fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents will be able to return to Canada without mandatory quarantine. That announcement came June 21 as the first official step for Canada to loosen border policies put in place roughly 15 months ago. Children and those unvaccinated will still have to undergo a two-week quarantine period and testing upon entry. While local officials welcomed the news, they also acknowledged the eased requirement remains separate from the recent extension of travel bans through at least July 21. In a statement issued following the looming lifted quarantine measures, North Country Chamber of Commerce Garry Douglas said "This limited action by Canada, which was expected today, is welcome and will assist some Canadians in the North Country in finally accessing family and property in Canada. However, it is entirely separate from the bi-national across the board extension of border restrictions announced on Friday and going until at least July 21." "Indeed, these Canadian quarantine measures, which have been and remain a unilateral mandate, now argue strongly for the U.S. to begin taking unilateral steps forward such as allowing Canadian access to family, property, boats, business requirements and U.S. airports. As frustration mounts, Douglas said "The response in recent days to the status quo by more and more leaders in both countries expresses the frustration at this now fifteen-month-old case of public policy malfeasance by both governments. Senate Majority Leader Schumer has made a very pointed call to the Canadian Ambassador and our Members of Congress including Elise Stefanik and Brian Higgins are not resting. And very importantly, more and more Canadian officials and organizations are openly frustrated at the inexplicable lack of a plan. And all are fed up with the total absence of transparency and consultation. We and a growing alliance of bi-national voices will continue to call out for hope and progress." Assemblyman Billy Jones said the measure is "a step in the right direction but it simply is not enough change to make a significant difference for folks across the North Country who have been struggling due to this border closure. I may sound like a broken record, but families continue to be separated and businesses continue to struggle due to these restrictions for the past 15 months. It is great to see unilateral movement from the Canadian government toward lifting these restrictions, but it is time that our federal government follows suit and starts a phased reopening approach to allow Canadians to cross the border to see their family, and access property, boats, businesses, and airports." As infection rates decrease and vaccinations increase, Jones said he has "continuously called on both governments to start making progress toward reopening safely and even called on our government to help vaccinate our northern neighbors to help speed up the process. The lack of action towards reopening the border is beyond frustrating for people across the North Country and I will continue to work with our federal representatives and local business leaders to start making progress toward lifting the border restrictions." Sen. Charles Schumer said "Once I heard the border closure would be extended yet again for another long thirty days, I immediately called the Canadian Ambassador to see what we can do, on both sides, to finally reopen the border and truly get upstate New York on the road to recovery. I explained to Ambassador Hillman how mind-boggling it is that many New Yorkers are free to travel to Europe now, but even those fully vaccinated can't even drive a few miles north to Canada to their homes, businesses, stores, families, and properties!" "I urged her to coordinate with me and other U.S. officials ASAP to come up with a plan – based on science, data, and common sense – that will allow for safe and steady border travel and reunite families and friends and jumpstart New York's local economies. I won't rest until the northern border is safely and effectively opened for all vaccinated New Yorkers." Specifically, Schumer requested that a binational agreement on reopening criteria be established and disclosed to the public without delay, allowing clarity and certainty for the thousands who have been displaced by the continued cycle of closure extensions. Such clarity, Schumer said, would provide transparency, goals to meet and guide policy, and would eliminate the need for monthly extensions that have seemed arbitrary.

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Fully vaccinated Canadians won't have to quarantine returning home

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