Canada is expected to ease its border restrictions for people who have been fully vaccinated, according to multiple reports.
Healthcare workers and other essential services, such as automakers, have been exempted from the restrictions put in place because of the COVID pandemic. But a lot of businesses and people in Canada and the U.S. have not been able to use the nation’s busiest trade border crossing.
Under the changes being considered, people who are fully vaccinated could enter Canada and skip the two week quarantine that’s required now. Instead, they will only be isolated long enough to get COVID tests returned.
“At least we are hoping that the restrictions will be eased and those that have been fully vaccinated will be allowed to cross the border from both sides,” said Rakesh Naidu, President and CEO of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce.
With about 47% of Michigan residents fully vaccinated, that could mean a lot more travel into Canada.
Naidu says that would be great, but he does not expect a lot of Canadians headed to the U.S.
“Canada, you know, hasn’t really added a significant number of people that have been fully vaccinated. We are still below 10%. So, it’ll take some time before we got to, you know, 40 to 50% fully vaccinated.”
The latest Government of Canada data show less than 6% of residents are fully vaccinated.
Both the U.S. and Canadian governments are being pressured to open up the border in time for summer vacations.
