US-Mexico COVID-19 Restrictions To Last Until August 21, Not Applicable to Commercial Air, Sea Travel

By Giul Martin First Posted: Jul 21, 2021 05:07 PM EDT

The current U.S.-Mexico COVID-19 restrictions have been extended until Aug. 21. The United States Department of Homeland Security explained that it needs to make this decision since the global pandemic is still affecting the nation, especially since the new variants Delta and Lambda have arrived in the country.

Us-Mexico COVID-19 Restrictions To Last Until August 21, but Don't Apply to Commercial Air, Sea Travel

(Photo : Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Healthcare professionals prepare to screen people for the coronavirus at a testing site erected by the Maryland National Guard in a parking lot at FedEx Field March 30, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. The guard, in cooperation with the state of Maryland and Prince Georges County, said the site will be able to test about 100 people a day for COVID-19 if they have been recommended by a doctor.

"To decrease the spread of COVID-19, including the Delta variant, the United States is extending restrictions on non-essential travel at our land and ferry crossings with Canada and Mexico through August 21, while ensuring the continued flow of essential trade and travel," announced by government department via an official Twitter account.

The U.S. DHS added that it is currently coordinating with Mexican and Canadian government officials to identify specific conditions under the current safety restrictions. It added that the extension would prevent and ease the rising daily COVID-19 infection cases.

US-Mexico Restrictions To Last Until August

The announcement of the U.S. Department of Homeland and Security was able to generate more than 770 comments, 360 likes, and 560 retweets. Since the extension could affect many Canadian and Mexican residents, some people criticized the decision of DHS.

(Photo : Photo by GUILLERMO ARIAS/AFP via Getty Images)
A family walks near the US-Mexico border fence in Playas de Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico, on August 2, 2020, amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. - Despite the safe distance restrictions and beach closure people from both sides of the border visited Playas de Tijuana this weekend. (Photo by Guillermo Arias / AFP)

"I made a medical appointment with my gynecologist in Yuma AZ and the police from Az did not let me cross to the US I am 6 months pregnant," said one of the Twitter users in the comment section.

On the other hand, another user asked why the U.S. government extended the restrictions until August 21, even though Canada announced that it would allow non-essential Americans from Aug. 15. He added that the update doesn't make sense since the dates don't match.

Aside from these two commentators, another one reiterated that the restrictions are meaningless if a few safety measures are implemented in the country. She explained that the restrictions would not be effective if Americans will not conduct social distancing or wear masks.

DHS is in constant contact with Canadian and Mexican counterparts to identify the conditions under which restrictions may be eased safely and sustainably.
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 21, 2021

According to Border Report's latest report, Bill Blair, the Public Safety Minister of Canada, stated that there is no update on when will the U.S. government allow fully vaccinated Canadians to cross the land border. As of the moment, these safety restrictions, which were implemented back in March 2020, could still change depending on the numbers of COVID-19 cases in America.

CDC Advises U.S. To Re-Implement Wearing Face Masks

NPR reported that the U.S. might need to consider re-implementing the use of face masks. CDC also claimed that even vaccinated people should wear PPEs since the new Delta variant could bypass their COVID-19 vaccines.

On the other hand, Former U.S. President Donald Trump's Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams also advised vaccinated individuals to do this to protect themselves from the new strains. As of the moment, COVID-19 developers are still enhancing their medicines to neutralize Delta and Lambda.