Canada’s prime minister urges slow reopening of U.S. border

May 13, 2020 Michael US 0

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference at Rideau Cottage during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa, Ontario, on Thursday, May 7, 2020. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 7:21 AM PT — Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his cabinet will be “very careful” about reopening the U.S.-Canadian border amid the global health pandemic.

On Tuesday, the Canadian leader said economic activity along the border is starting to resume. However, he noted that increased border-crossings may lead to new coronavirus cases on both sides.

“It is likely that we see a few more people either returning home or a few more people trying to cross the border,” he stated. However, Trudeau said Canada may need some more time to reopen the border with all precautions in place.

Most lanes remain closed at the Peace Arch border crossing into the U.S. from Canada, where the shared border has been closed for nonessential travel in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Thursday, May 7, 2020, in Blaine, Wash. The restrictions at the border took effect March 21, while allowing trade and other travel deemed essential to continue. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

“We have every step of the way taken the necessary measures to keep Canadians safe, that has been our priority,” stated the prime minister. “And because that has meant negative economic impacts for many sectors across the country, we have moved forward with supports for workers across the country, but our priority needs to be keeping Canadians safe.”

Prime Minister Trudeau went on to stress that both the U.S. and Canada have successfully contained COVID-19 and must now work to prevent a second wave.