A MAJOR MILESTONE TH IS MORNING - FOR MANY PEOPLE IN OUR REGION. FOTHR E FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 20 MONTHS... FULLY VACCINATED CANADIANS - ARE áNOWá ALWELOD TO CROSS THE BORDER INTO THE U! -S TODAY - A HIGHLY ANTICIPAT ED DAY... FOR THOSE ON áBOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER. WHILE LEISURE TRAVELERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO Y FL BETWEEN CANADA AND THE U-S... THIS IS THE áFIRST TIM Eá THEY CAN DO SO - BY LAND...SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC! NBC FIVE'S LAUREN GRANADA...JOINS US LIVE AT THE BORDER - IN ROUSES POINT, NEW YORK. LAUREN- THERE ARE SOME áSTIPULATIS.ON.. TIED TO ALL OF THIS. SARAHBETH AND ZURI, E TH BORDER'S BEEN OPEN FOR FIVE HOURS NOW to non-esstial en travel. AND IT MAY STILL BE EARLY FOR A TRIP ACROSS THE BORDER BUT NOW -- BORDER TOWNS LIKE ROUSES POINT WILL START SEEING CA RS CROSS OVER ONCE AGAIN. THE NORTH COTRUNY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT, GARRY DOUGLAS, RELEASING A STATEMENT READING IN PART: "Business travel has been near zero since March of 2020, significantly impacting two national economies which are highly integrated. We can never quantify the cost of business activity and investntme that did not occur but otherwise would have, but it was substantial and growin" g. HOWEVER, EXPERTS SAY RE- OPENING MAY NOT CREATEN A IMMEDIATE ECONOMIC BOOM. THAT'S BECAUSE CANADA IS REQUIRING ITS CITIZENS TO PRESENT A NEGATIVE COVID P-C-R TEST UPON RE-ENTRY, WHICH FOR CANADIANS CAN COST UP TO THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS EACH. U-S CONGRESS MEMBERS, AS WELL AS MAYORS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FR OM BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER ARE URGING THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TO DROP THAT REQUIREMENT. LIVE IN ROUSES POINT LG NBC5. IN VERMO. NT THE AGENCY OF HUMAN SERVICES EXPECTS... AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR COVID-19 TESTING. IT SAYS... NACADIANS CAN GET TESTED...AT VERMONT'S STATE-RUN TESIS - AT NO COST. THEY SHOULD GET RESULTS IN ABOUT TWO DAYS. THE AGENCY SAYS. .. IT WILL ADD APPOINTMENT TIMES AS NEEDED - BAD SEON DEMAND... MAKING SURE THAT VERMONTERS - A TNDHEIR GUESTS - HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TESTED... FOR THE VIRUS. CANADIAN TOURISTS... AREN'T THE ONLY ONES - N OW ALLOWED INTO THE-S. U RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED FOR ALL áFULLY VACCINATED INTERNATIONAL VISITORS TOO. THIS ENDS A BAN ON FOREIGN TRAVELERS... THAT STTED AR AT THE SAME TIME AS THE U-S CANADA BORDER SHUT-DOWN TO NON-ESSENTIAL TRAV. EL AIRLINES HAVE ALREY AD REPORTED A JUMP IN BOOKINGS TO THE U
US-Canada border reopens for land travelers
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Updated: 7:18 AM CST Nov 8, 2021
Vaccinated Canadians can now drive across the border or enter the U.S. by ferry, after the border reopened at midnight on Nov. 8. While leisure travelers have been able to fly between Canada and the U.S., this is the first time they can do so by land since the start of the pandemic.However, experts say reopening may not create an immediate economic boom. Canadians must show proof of vaccination upon entering the U.S., but do not need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. However, Canada is requiring its citizens to present a negative COVID PCR test upon re-entry, which for Canadians can cost up to $300 each.“That will limit casual travel for pleasure until Canada is ready to reassess its policies, which will likely come once more and more Canadians, who want to come but discover the cost, complain to their members of Parliament. We have also continued to actively communicate with Canadian officials, including hosting recent visits and reaching out to friends in Ottawa,” said North Country, New York, Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas. U.S. Congress members, as well as mayors and community leaders from both sides of the border are urging the Canadian government to drop that requirement.
ROUSES POINT, N.Y. — Vaccinated Canadians can now drive across the border or enter the U.S. by ferry, after the border reopened at midnight on Nov. 8.
While leisure travelers have been able to fly between Canada and the U.S., this is the first time they can do so by land since the start of the pandemic.
However, experts say reopening may not create an immediate economic boom. Canadians must show proof of vaccination upon entering the U.S., but do not need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
However, Canada is requiring its citizens to present a negative COVID PCR test upon re-entry, which for Canadians can cost up to $300 each.
“That will limit casual travel for pleasure until Canada is ready to reassess its policies, which will likely come once more and more Canadians, who want to come but discover the cost, complain to their members of Parliament. We have also continued to actively communicate with Canadian officials, including hosting recent visits and reaching out to friends in Ottawa,” said North Country, New York, Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas.
U.S. Congress members, as well as mayors and community leaders from both sides of the border are urging the Canadian government to drop that requirement.
