US extends border closure for another month, restricting nonessential travel

The U.S. government on Wednesday extended the closure of land borders with Mexico and Canadato nonessential travel such as tourism through August 21 even as officials debate whether to require visitors to have received a Covid-19 vaccine.

The latest 30-day extension by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) came after Canada announced on Monday it will start allowing in fully vaccinated U.S. visitors on August 9 for nonessential travel after the Covid-19 pandemic forced a 16-month ban that many businesses have called crippling.

DHS said on Wednesday it “is in constant contact with Canadian and Mexican counterparts to identify the conditions under which restrictions may be eased safely and sustainably.”