Canada and the U.S. working on extending border closure

Cana and U.S. are working on an agreement to extend closing ir border to nessential travel during coronavirus pandemic, a Canian government official said Wednesday.

official, who was t authorized to be quoted by name to discuss talks, said it is too early to lift restrictions, which are set to expire next week. Trump ministration and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government anunced a 30-day extension of restrictions last month.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that U.S.-Cana border will be among first borders to open and that U.S. and Cana are doing well in handling pandemic.

But many Canians fear a reopening. U.S. has more confirmed cases and deaths from COVID-19 than any country in world, though its per capita numbers are well below many or nations.

U.S. and Cana agreed in March to limit border crossings to essential travel amid pandemic. Nearly 200,000 people cross that border daily in rmal times.

Essential cross-border workers like healthcare professionals, airline crews and truck drivers are still permitted to cross. Truck drivers are critical as y move food and medical goods in both directions. Much of Cana’s food supply comes from or via U.S.

Americans who are returning to America and Canians who are returning to Cana are among those who are also exempted from border closure.

Cana sends 75% of its exports to U.S. and about 18% of American exports go to Cana. U.S. Cana border is world’s longest between two nations.