Changing guidelines for border crossing welcome for all, but especially for separated families

As Northland residents know all too well, the border between the United States and Canada closed to non-essential travel in March of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Canadian border reopened in August 2021 and the U.S. border reopened in November 2021. However, there were restrictions that seemed to be ever-changing, such as required quarantining on arrival in Canada and the need for negative COVID-19 tests prior to entry.

Slowly, the pandemic restrictions are being lifted. On Wednesday, Canadian Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said tests would no longer be needed for vaccinated travelers beginning April 1, 2022.

At this time, the United States requires proof of vaccination for international travelers entering the country, by air or land. Citizens of the United States can re-enter the country with no restrictions.

Submitted photo – Now able to be back together on weekends, thanks to the loosening of post-travel quarantine restrictions, the Eliasen Marasco family resumed Sunday Funday activities by attending the Dog Days of Winter Races at Trail Center this last weekend.

The changes are especially welcome to community members who have family living on the other side of the border. WTIP’s Rhonda Silence learns more about what maneuvering the border restrictions has been like in this interview with Valerie Marasco Eliasen.

Rhonda Silence March 18, 2022