HOULTON, Maine – An executive order recently issued in the early days of President Joe Biden in office requires new public health protocols across Canada and Mexico, as well as updated foreign entry policies that can arrive in less than two weeks.
The order, entitled “Executive Order for the Promotion of COVID-19 Security in Domestic and International Travel”, contains instructions for several federal departments, such as Health and Human Services, Transport and Homeland Security, to propose and introduce new public health measures to the along land ports of entry, such as along the US-Canada border.
It also calls for those plans to be presented to the president within 14 days of the executive order, which was issued on January 21.
“The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of HHS, the Secretary of Transport, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of the CDC, should immediately begin diplomatic work for the governments of Canada and Mexico in relation to health protocols. public access to land ports of entry, ”said the order. “The plan must implement the CDC guidelines, in accordance with applicable law, and take into account relevant operational considerations for the different populations entering the United States by land.”
The order also requires updated health protocols for visitors entering the United States, such as having to submit a negative COVID-19 test at the entrance if arriving by plane. It also requires that such a plan be implemented within two weeks of the request.
While the new guidelines may provide more details about the exact appearance of a border reopening plan, the border between the U.S. and Canada is unlikely to open any time soon.
On January 12, it was announced via Twitter by Canadian Minister for Public Security and Emergency Preparedness, Bill Blair, that the border closure would be extended until at least February 21, continuing the method of extending the closure every month since the closure the border. in March.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also said he has no intention of reopening the border until COVID-19 cases have declined significantly in both countries.
The Wilson Institute, an influential policy think tank in Washington, DC, plans to issue a recommendation for the transition to a proper reopening of the border in March, approximately a year after the border is closed.