Canada extends ban on most foreign travellers to July 31

OTTAWA - Canada has extended the current ban on international travellers until July 31, according to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on Tuesday.

"The Government of Canada remains committed to protecting the health and safety of Canadians and reducing the spread of COVID-19 in Canada," said the CBSA in a news release.

Canada implemented a series of measures, including the ban on entry to all travellers who are not Canadian citizens and permanent residents, to stem the spread of COVID-19 in mid-March.

The ban, which also allows the immediate family members of Canadian citizens, diplomats and aircrews to come into Canada, is set to expire Tuesday night.

The ban exempts the United States, which entered into a separate agreement with Canada shortly after the halt on all other foreign travel.

The agreement, which prohibits non-essential travel between Canada and the United States, remains in effect until July 21. Under the agreement, essential workers, such as truckers and health workers, are allowed to cross the border.

Tuesday's extension comes after the European Union agreed to allow tourists from 15 countries to enter the EU beginning tomorrow. China and Canada is among the 15 countries on a safe list. The United States did not make the list of safe countries.

Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dismissed a proposal to relax the ban on international travellers, saying that moving too quickly could spark a second wave of the coronavirus in Canada.

The Trudeau government has also renewed the Quarantine Act requiring travellers to isolate for 14 days upon their arrival in Canada. The act, which is also set to expire Tuesday night, has now been extended to August 31.