The North Country Chamber of Commerce is welcoming news that Canada has decided to drop its current requirement of a negative antigen COVID test for vaccinated Americans to enter Canada at the land border and for vaccinated Canadians to return home even after short U.S. visits.
“This is the major step we and so many of our partners in both countries have been calling for,” says Garry Douglas, Chamber President. “It will bring Canada into alignment with U.S. policy since November, allowing fully vaccinated Canadians to enter the U.S. Most Canadians and Americans who are fully vaccinated, defined by Canada as two doses, will now be able to move back and forth with ease. And it is a major advance after going so long with two different sets of policies to once again have the U.S. and Canada largely in sync at what has long been a shared border.”
The change in Canadian policy will begin on April 1st. The Chamber notes that all who cross the border into Canada will still be required to download the Arrive Can app with their vaccination information, and to use that app to pre-report their cross-border travel before arrival.
“We thank the Canadian government for this long hoped for development, beginning the process of mending the two-year separation that has so impacted the special social connection between our two peoples. Let us all now begin to restore this historic people to people connection. Onward and upward, and over the border!”
Garry Douglas
President and CEO
North Country Chamber of Commerce