Canada closes borders to most foreigners to fight spread of COVID-19

The Blue Water Bridge border connects Canada to the United States in Sarnia, Ont. (ehrlif/Adobe Stock)

By Mia Rabson

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is closing its borders to most people who aren’t Canadians or permanent residents to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Trudeau says the government is taking “increasingly aggressive steps” to keep everyone safe on the advice of public health experts, with the move to close the border coming just days after Health Minister Patty Hajdu said border closures have not proven particularly effective elsewhere.

The restrictions come into effect March 18, and do not apply to Americans because the two countries are so closely intertwined.

Trudeau says Canadians who are not in Canada need to come home immediately and is establishing a fund to help people who are finding it financially difficult to arrange travel home in the face of soaring ticket prices.

Travellers still must isolate themselves for 14 days after they arrive.

The government is also restricting overseas flights to just four airports in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver, and mandating airlines to screen passengers for symptoms of the virus before allowing anyone to board a plane.

The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Canada more than doubled since Friday, including 32 new confirmed cases in Ontario on Monday.

Trudeau’s promised 1 p.m. statement to the nation was nearly 40 minutes behind schedule, and Trudeau says the situation is changing quickly requiring a rapidly changing response.

Trudeau says “we can still slow the spread of this virus” but it will take a major adjustment from everyone.