In bid to slow coronavirus, Canada shuts borders to foreign nationals

[webfact]

In bid to slow coronavirus, Canada shuts borders to foreign nationals

By Kelsey Johnson and David Ljunggren

 

Drivers wait to cross through Canadian customs at the Canada-US border near the Peace Arch Provincial Park in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada after Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced additional measures to combat the spread of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada March 16, 2020. REUTERS/Jesse Winter

 

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada closed its borders to all foreign nationals except U.S. citizens and permanent residents on Monday, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging people to limit social contact to help stem the spread of the new coronavirus.

 

Several other countries have already taken the same step. The 27-nation European Union proposed shutting its external borders to foreigners for 30 days on Monday.

 

"We will be denying entry into Canada to people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents ... it is a significant step that we take in exceptional circumstances," Trudeau told reporters outside his home, where he is under quarantine after his wife, Sophie, tested positive for the respiratory virus.

 

As the spread of the virus accelerates in Canada, Trudeau also urged people to stay in their homes and restrict contact with others as much as possible.

 

"Staying home is an important step to protect the community and each other. We all have to do it," he said.

 

Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said the country was "in a fairly critical period," and that the next two weeks were crucial in trying to stem the outbreak.

 

The death toll in Canada rose to four on Monday from one on Sunday. The number of infected jumped to 407 from the 341 reported at 9 a.m. (1300 GMT) earlier in the day, medical officials said.

 

The new deaths occurred in the Pacific province of British Columbia, which is directly north of Washington, one of the worst-hit U.S. states.

 

Trade will not be affected by the border closing. Canada shares a long unguarded frontier with the United States, which takes 75% percent of Canadian goods exports.

 

Asked why U.S. citizens were exempt, Trudeau said the close bilateral integration meant the United States was in a different category from other nations. But he added that more measures could be announced soon.

 

"Both countries rely on each other to provide essential goods ... so it's very important we do this with a degree of precision and in the spirit of a strong relationship," Health Minister Patty Hajdu later told reporters.

 

British Columbia said, however, it was concerned that U.S. citizens would be allowed in.

 

"Our strong message (is) that visitors from the United States not come to British Columbia," said provincial Health Minister Adrian Dix.

 

The border closure helped drive down Air Canada's stock by as much as 38%.

 

Canada will reroute all international flight arrivals to four airports - Toronto, Calgary, Montreal and Vancouver - and has imposed tougher screening requirements.

 

Ontario, the most-populous province, and one which accounts for nearly half of the confirmed cases, said it would delay a March 25 budget and instead deliver an economic and fiscal update.

 

Trudeau, who has promised to unveil a major stimulus package soon, said that "in the medium term and then into the long term, we will need to invest significant amounts to restore people's confidence in the economy."

 

(Reporting by Kelsey Johnson and David Ljunggren; Additional reporting by Steve Scherer in Ottawa, Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Allison Lambert in Montreal and Amran Abocar, Allison Martell and Moira Warburton in Toronto; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-17

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[Pravda]

ummm.... so how do I get back home ????

[from the home of CC]

Way too late now, health Canada definitely has dropped the ball - morons. They had a dental conference in BC with 15,000 attendees in the first week of March and now they are all being asked to isolate themselves, Just how stupid are people in the health business? 

[Gervais Bilodeau]

Too late....no passengers were 

monitored until few days ago. 

They let the virus coming into the country. Irresponsibles.

[unblocktheplanet]

On 3/17/2020 at 12:47 PM, Pravda said:

ummm.... so how do I get back home ????

Not now, bro... NO movement! Keep all of us safe as possible.

 

I can't believe that yesterday Suvarnabhumi had 726 flights in & out with 78,000 travelers. Stupid or just selfish!