B.C.'s health minister issued a stark warning Monday to would-be visitors thinking of travelling north from the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic: "Don't come."
Adrian Dix pleaded with Americans to stay away from British Columbia minutes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada would be closing its borders to all foreign citizens except those from the United States.
Dix noted that B.C. borders Washington, one of the states hardest hit by COVID-19. As of Monday, the state had seen 42 deaths and nearly 800 cases in regions only a few hours away from the northern border.
"We remain concerned that access to visitors from the United States continues to be allowed," Dix said.
"It's our strong view and it's our strong message that visitors from the United States not come to British Columbia. Don't come, because at this moment that is the wrong thing to do."
Late Tuesday............
Canada and the United States are finalizing a deal to close their shared border to non-essential travel — an extraordinary measure designed to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Multiple sources with direct knowledge of the talks say the details are still being worked out, and could be announced as early as Wednesday.
Once finalized, the agreement would close the border to tourists and shoppers while still allowing Canadians to return home. The final deal is expected to allow some commercial traffic to continue to keep critical supply chains intact.
CNN first reported the development Tuesday night. Sources have confirmed the accuracy of the report. One source says Ottawa and Washington are working together on the plan, and that it will be reciprocal.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had previously resisted closing the border to Canada's closest ally and most important trading partner — but he did not rule it out.
'Sign of friendship'
The planned restrictions underscore the sudden severity of the COVID-19 crisis. Typically, Canadian officials are loath to impose restrictions on the movement of people at the border.
But the intention is to find an agreement that will restrict the free-flow of people across the border, but still allow for the flow of critical goods across the border.
Adrian Dix pleaded with Americans to stay away from British Columbia minutes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada would be closing its borders to all foreign citizens except those from the United States.
Dix noted that B.C. borders Washington, one of the states hardest hit by COVID-19. As of Monday, the state had seen 42 deaths and nearly 800 cases in regions only a few hours away from the northern border.
"We remain concerned that access to visitors from the United States continues to be allowed," Dix said.
"It's our strong view and it's our strong message that visitors from the United States not come to British Columbia. Don't come, because at this moment that is the wrong thing to do."
Late Tuesday............
Canada and the United States are finalizing a deal to close their shared border to non-essential travel — an extraordinary measure designed to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Multiple sources with direct knowledge of the talks say the details are still being worked out, and could be announced as early as Wednesday.
Once finalized, the agreement would close the border to tourists and shoppers while still allowing Canadians to return home. The final deal is expected to allow some commercial traffic to continue to keep critical supply chains intact.
CNN first reported the development Tuesday night. Sources have confirmed the accuracy of the report. One source says Ottawa and Washington are working together on the plan, and that it will be reciprocal.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had previously resisted closing the border to Canada's closest ally and most important trading partner — but he did not rule it out.
'Sign of friendship'
The planned restrictions underscore the sudden severity of the COVID-19 crisis. Typically, Canadian officials are loath to impose restrictions on the movement of people at the border.
But the intention is to find an agreement that will restrict the free-flow of people across the border, but still allow for the flow of critical goods across the border.
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