Canada extends border closure for another 30 days

The border closure has been extended until Apr 21.

"We're all eager to be able to travel again, but I think we're all going to wait patiently until such time as the health situation allows us to loosen border restrictions internationally. That'll be eventually, but not for today," Trudeau said a few days earlier.

The border between Canada and the United States, the world's longest between two countries, has been closed since Mar 21, 2020. The closure came as a response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with the government of Canada seeking to prevent a spike in cases originating from the United States, where the rate of infection is significantly higher.

It is the first time the Canada-US border has been closed on a long-term basis since the War of 1812 when the United States attempted to conquer Upper and Lower Canada, which at the time were British colonies.

The border closure has faced some opposition in the United States, with the administration of former President Donald Trump particularly opposing the measure in the later months of his administration.

However, under the Biden administration, the US government appears intent on keeping the border closed, with the Department of Homeland Security announcing that the United States is extending the border closure for another month as well.

The closure only affects "non-essential" travel, with Canadians and Americans still being given permission to cross the border for educational or business purposes.

Many border towns have experienced major economic slumps since the closure of the border.