However, some details remain to be determined, including the exact date the new policy will come into effect, as well as its requirements for testing for COVID-19.
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Canada, for its part, opened its borders to US travelers last August.
Relief in the United States
Jaime Spry, manager of Ryden’s Border Store To Grand Portage in Minnesota is thrilled with the news.
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His store, which is just south of the border, is a popular place for Canadians to have packages shipped.
It’s fantastic. For business and finance in general of course. […] We’re all part-time now, so at least there’s an opportunity for a few to come back.
Some packages shipped to Ms. Spry for Canadian customers have been there for over a year and a half.
New visitors
In the County of Cook still in Minnesota, Linda Jurek, the president of the tourism organization Visit Cook County believes that while the areas bordering Canada have been more affected by the border closure, tourism has changed in its region.
We had more visitors from the south, so in terms of traffic we weren’t really affected by the pandemic.
Cancellation of sporting events
According to Ms. Jurek, it is rather the cancellations of events that affected the region during the pandemic in terms of tourism.
County of Cook notably holds several important cycling races, races to which no Canadian has been able to attend.
Mrs Jurek stresses, however, having noted a real decline in the influx of tourists during the winter season, particularly from Thunder Bay.
We are so used to having our neighbors to the north in our community. It’s weird not seeing these people we have come to know anymore.
According to Kjersti KjerstiVick, the Marketing and Public Relations Director of Visit Cook County, the summer season was still good, as Canada opened its borders to the United States.
Thus, the businesses of the region took advantage of the influx of travelers from the south passing to the north.
Caution is in order
However, public health is reminding Ontarians to exercise caution and check the status of COVID-19 in areas in the United States they want to travel to.
Check the situation with COVID-19, as you would the weather.
According to the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of today, the County of Cook counted 13 new cases of COVID-19 and pointed out that 79.1% of the population was fully vaccinated there.
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It should be remembered that certain trips from Canada to the United States were already permitted, when in particular, essential workers still had the possibility of crossing the land border.
Canadian vacationers, for their part, could travel to the US side by plane.
The Dre Jennifer Loo, associate medical officer of health for the Algoma health unit, a district sharing a border with Michigan, recalls that non-essential travel is still discouraged.
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