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The US has extended its requirement that travellers entering the country by land be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Some unvaccinated Canadians had been hoping that the measure, put in place on Jan. 22, would be permanently dropped when it expired tonight.
But the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said today it was renewing the requirement so it could “protect the health and safety” of its border agents and the US population at large.
The DHS provided no expiration date for the requirement.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to protecting public health while facilitating lawful trade and travel, which is essential to our economic security,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas.
“That is why, after consulting with CDC and other federal agencies, DHS will continue to require non-US individuals entering the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination upon request.”
COVID-19 tests are not required to enter by land or ferry, however.
DHS explained: “The continuation of these requirements helps protect the health and safety of both the personnel at the border and other travelers [sic], as well as US destination communities, and ensures that public health measures governing land travel align with those that govern incoming international air travel.”
It added: “DHS will closely monitor all relevant circumstances, including the effect of these requirements, and may amend or rescind the requirements at any time.”
Non-Americans entering the US by air, meanwhile, must be fully vaccinated and must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within a day of travelling.
Instead of a test, travellers can also provide an official document showing they have had, and recovered from, COVID-19 in the 90 days before travelling.
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