Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a media conference on May 18 that Canada’s Coronavirus vaccination rate should reach more than 75 percent before the Canada-U.S. border is reopened. He believes Canada is not out of the third wave of outbreaks and has a lot of work to do before safe travel resumes.
As vaccination rates in the United States and Canada have increased and daily numbers have fallen, calls have been made for the Canada-U.S. border to be reopened. Some U.S. lawmakers have even called on the Biden administration to seriously consider restoring free travel between the U.S. and Canada ahead of the July 4 Independence Day holiday.
Mr. Trudeau’s comments were a response not only to some U.S. lawmakers, but also to voices who want to reopen the Canada-U.S. border as soon as possible.
As of May 17, local time, the proportion of canadians who have completed one dose of the Coronavirus vaccine is 45.73 percent, and the proportion who have completed two doses is less than 4 percent. Even when the vaccine is fully supplied, a 75 per cent vaccination rate will have to wait until at least August.
The Canada-U.S. border has been closed since the outbreak began in March 2020, allowing only people who have to work across borders to pass through and cross-border logistics.
