The imminent reopening of the U.S.-Canada border to fully vaccinated American travellers next month is drawing mixed reactions from health and economic experts in both countries, some of whom are still wary about the spread of COVID-19.
Starting Aug. 9, U.S. citizens and permanent residents will be allowed to cross the border into Canada for non-essential travel without having to quarantine upon arrival. Travellers will have to submit proof of vaccination through the ArriveCAN app and provide a negative COVID-19 test no more than three days old.
On Sept. 7, the same rules will be applied to other countries around the world.
Health experts are voicing more caution. They say the surge of the highly transmissible Delta variant around the world — which is leading to a spike in COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and other countries — means Canada cannot let its guard down, even amid low case counts and positive vaccination rates.