Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday the gradual easing of pandemic restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border.
Driving the news: Trudeau told a news conference this would begin Monday with the lifting of a 14-day quarantine requirement for Canadian residents fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The measure has been in place since March last year.
- These residents will also no longer be required to stay in a government-approved hotel for their first three days back in Canada.
Yes, but: The easing of the rules does not apply to fully vaccinated U.S. residents as Trudeau wants to keep the border shut until at least 75% of Canadians are fully vaccinated.
What he's saying: "We're very hopeful that we're going to see new steps on reopening announced in the coming weeks," Trudeau said at the news conference in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
- "We're going to make sure that we're not seeing a resurgence of COVID-19 cases because nobody wants to go back to further restrictions, after having done so much and sacrificed so much to get to this point."
By the numbers: Nearly 67% of Canada's population has had at least one coronavirus vaccine dose, official figures show.
- Just over 27% have been fully vaccinated against the virus.
What to watch: Canada's restrictions barring nonessential travel with the U.S. will remain in place until at least July 21.
