US borders with Canada, Mexico to remain closed through Feb. 21
From WWW.USATODAY.COM
America's borders with Canada and Mexico will remain closed for another month.
The Department of Homeland Security announced via tweet Tuesday that the U. S., Canada and Mexico have agreed to keep the borders closed through at least Feb. 21 as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to worsen.
"In order to continue to prevent the spread of #COVID, the US, Mexico, Canada will extend the restrictions on non-essential travel through Feb. 21," the DHS tweet said. "We are working closely with Mexico & Canada to keep essential trade & travel open while also protecting our citizens from the virus."
Tuesday's border closure extension is the final one issued by the Trump administration. In a subsequent tweet, DHS noted that it could be subject to further review by President-elect Joe Biden and his pick to head the agency, Alejandro Mayorkas.
Factors that may warrant further review include: the degree of health risk indicated in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's travel health notices for Canada and Mexico, which are currently at the agency's highest threat level of 4; public health conditions and travel restrictions in border localities; and Customs and Border Protection staffing levels to conduct necessary entry port operations based on projected increase in traffic volumes.
The three countries agreed to close their borders to all but essential traffic beginning March 21 and have extended the closures one month at a time since. Should the three countries extend their orders again next month, the borders will have been closed for a full year.
That's not too far-fetched considering the U. S. continues to set new COVID-19 death records even as Americans roll up their sleeves to receive their first of two vaccine injections.
During the past week, a record 22,676 people died of COVID-19, according to figures from Jo... (Read more)
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