COVID-19: Trudeau and Trump agree to close border
COVID-19: Trudeau and Trump agree to close border – Both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump announced today that by mutual consent they will be temporarily closing the Canada – U.S.A. border to non-essential traffic in both directions. Trade between the neighbouring countries will not be affected.
Both countries have had an ongoing conversation about aggressively trying to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“In both our countries, we’re encouraging people to stay home; we’re telling our citizens not to visit their neighbours unless they absolutely have to. This collaborative and reciprocal measure is an extension of that prudent approach,” said Trudeau.
President Trump beat Canada’s PM to the punch by announcing the decision on Twitter around 9:30 am, while Trudeau made the press announcement officially outside Rideau Cottage in Ottawa around 11 am.
The border measures will last as long as the leaders think it should. But no date or time was mentioned for when it will be established.
Both leaders emphasised that essential travel will be allowed to continue to preserve critical supply chains. Trucks will continue to cross the border for the purpose of delivering food, fuel and medicine. Essential workers like health-care professionals who live and work on opposite sides of the border will also be permitted to cross.
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