The United States, Mexico, and Canada are extending non-essential travels for another month to control the spread of COVID-19 that continue to affect the three countries that share a common border according to a recently published article.


COVID-19 Cases in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada

COVID-19 cases around the world continue to swell. At present, there are more than 2.6 million positive cases and with a death toll of more than 180,000 though the numbers of recovered patients have reached more than 700,000 according to worldometers.com.

The United States remains at the top, having more than 840,000 cases and with a death toll of more than 47,000. Meanwhile, Mexico has the highest ratio of confirmed cases and the death toll in Latin America that even forced some hospitals to turn away their patients.

At present, Mexico has more than 10,000 cases and a death toll of nearly 1,000. Additionally, Canada has more than 40,000 positive cases of the virus and a death toll of nearly 2,000.

These three countries are sharing borders making them more vulnerable for virus transmission if there are no travel restrictions in place. This means that if these countries drastically lift non-essential travels, it could create chaos and possibly allow entry of persons who are asymptomatic for the virus.


One Month Extension of Non-Essential Travels

Chad Wolf, Acting Homeland Security Secretary, announced earlier this week that the three countries that are sharing the same borders would be extending their travel restrictions to another one month. The announcement was made on Monday before the first order was set to expire on the same day.

Wolf said: "In close collaboration, the U.S., Mexico, and Canada have each agreed to extend restrictions on non-essential travel across their shared borders for 30 additional days."

He also added, "As President Trump stated last week, border control, travel restrictions and other limitations remain critical to slowing the spread and allowing the phased opening of the country."


Essential Travels Only Allowed in the Three Countries

The first order of travel restriction was implemented on March 20. "Essential Travels" allowed are defined as follows:  

  • U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the United States
  • Individuals traveling for medical purposes (e.g., to receive medical treatment in the United States)
  • Individuals traveling to attend educational institutions
  • Individuals traveling to work in the United States
  • Individuals traveling for emergency response and public health purposes (e.g., government officials or emergency responders entering the United States to support Federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial government efforts to respond to COVID-19 or other emergencies)
  • Individuals engaged in lawful cross-border trade
  • Individuals engaged in official government travel or diplomatic travel
  • Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the spouses and children of members of the U.S. Armed Forces, returning to the United States
  • Individuals engaged in military-related travel or operations

During the first order, Pres. Trump said: "These measures will protect the health of all three nations and reduce the incentive for mass global migration that would badly deplete the health care resources needed for our people."

Moreover, his first order was also made right after he decided to suspend air travel from Europe to the United States temporarily. Earlier this year, Pres. Trump implemented a travel ban from China, where the virus originated, to the United States. 


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