Opening up!

We'll see if they make that but was guessing June or July.

Probably biased but nice to hear

Canadian poll

And from the CA health chief:
Changes coming

billconner: "We'll see if they make that but was guessing June or July.

Probably biased but nice to hear

Canadian poll

And from the CA health chief:
Changes coming "

The statement by Dr. Theresa Tam, the chief public health officer of Canada, quoted in the last article carries some weight.

“We’re very actively examining the policies related to vaccinated travellers or fully vaccinated travel,” Tam said at the three-hour long committee hearing, adding, “I do think that Canada is probably on a good trajectory in terms of its epidemiology and our own vaccination coverage and so I do think that between now and moving toward the fall, we would expect some shifts in that policy.”

It is exactly that kind of thinking that has led me to state over and over that I think the most likely time for the border to open is late summer or fall. I think that the authorities in Canada are more likely to go with the recommendations from their public health people rather than those of the travel industry and a journal like Travel Pulse that reports on the travel industry. I am thinking and I guess she is thinking that the number of people vaccinated with two doses by the end of summer will be high enough in both the US and Canada that the public health threat will be very low.

The other thing that comes up is a limited border opening for those who can prove they are fully vaccinated. This in my opinion could come sooner than the full opening of the border. Since Canada is investigating such a vaccine passport, it could allow Canadians to travel without the quarantine requirements on returning. The US on the other hand seems resistant to the idea of a vaccine passport. That could result in Americans waiting longer to be allowed access to Canada and other countries. Europe is also working on passports.

Canadian poll - just over half say open now or summer; other just under half fall or 2022; seems all with vaccine proof.

edit - forgot link!




Canada Starts Mapping Out Plan to Reopen U.S. Border

And Trudeau seems OK with 75% with just one dose, just as the health minister suggested:

Trudeau

billconner: "And Trudeau seems OK with 75% with just one dose, just as the health minister suggested:


Trudeau "

The efficacy of the vaccines toward the B1.617.2 (Indian) variant is looking to be a little reduced if you have two doses. If you have only one dose it is substantially reduced. The prudent thing to do would be cautious until the number of people with two doses is high. Time will tell if the early evidence on effectiveness is correct and how much this variant spreads. I would much rather error on the side a caution than optimism. Time and time again the world has errored on the side of optimism and then got burned. I think we are getting close to containing things in North America. Let’s not fall back again. In addition, we are going to need to help the rest of the world to have a long term solution.

I'll remain an optimist. Also can't see much difference between crossing state lines carte blanche or Canadian border, especially with vaccine proof.

Didn’t see this answered unless I missed it.
Is Quetico allowing people to book entry point passes?

I don't believe they are allowing overnight use yet. It seemed from some news reports that they may open in the next few weeks.

Checking just now, it appears Algonquin is at least partially open for overnight use.
OPP

For those wondering about Ontario here's the news for Ontarians. Ontario's 3 Stage Re-Opening

This is great news. I've been on a hair trigger to pull a permit for the last week in July and I now have more hope.

Overnight camping in step 2 at top and step 1 at bottom. Hmmmm....

Overnight camping is trailer, tent, canoe camping. Overnight camps are classed different from day camps for kids.

Looks like click bait to me.

If the border opens before my June 12 BWCA trip, I’m cancelling my permit and heading north of the border. I think we’re on the cusp of a move. The US is dang near back to normal even though the virus is still raging in those not fully vaccinated.

My brother-in-law got one dose but waffled on his second. He is in the hospital today with Covid.
Tom

There appears to be some confusion here. There are rumors of the US opening the border on June 22nd, but that doesn’t mean or even imply that Canada will open their border.

Art Vandelay : "There appears to be some confusion here. There are rumors of the US opening the border on June 22nd, but that doesn’t mean or even imply that Canada will open their border."

One won’t open without the other. It will be a mutual opening. It couldn’t happen any other way.

tumblehome: "

Art Vandelay : "There appears to be some confusion here. There are rumors of the US opening the border on June 22nd, but that doesn’t mean or even imply that Canada will open their border."

One won’t open without the other. It will be a mutual opening. It couldn’t happen any other way."

Since CA seems to support the idea of a vaccine passport and at least the federal government of US does not, opening the border seems destined to not be mutual. Maybe one will back down.

And is it mutual if US announces it's lifting restrictions on a certain date, and later Canada follows? There seems more urgency in US to open border than in Canada, especially among elected leaders.

Boldly go where no person - or politician - has gone before....

LarryS48: "

billconner: "And Trudeau seems OK with 75% with just one dose, just as the health minister suggested:



Trudeau "

The efficacy of the vaccines toward the B1.617.2 (Indian) variant is looking to be a little reduced if you have two doses. If you have only one dose it is substantially reduced. The prudent thing to do would be cautious until the number of people with two doses is high. Time will tell if the early evidence on effectiveness is correct and how much this variant spreads. I would much rather error on the side a caution than optimism. Time and time again the world has errored on the side of optimism and then got burned. I think we are getting close to containing things in North America. Let’s not fall back again. In addition, we are going to need to help the rest of the world to have a long term solution. "

I hadn’t heard the 1 vs. 2 shot effectiveness for the Indian variant. If that proves true we will be lucky for a September opening...time will tell. We are all just guessing.

The Ontario phasing process goatroti linked to maps out phase 3 which would likely be linked to the border needs up to 80% 1 shot and 25% need to be fully vaccinated...that looks like August/September? But maybe they will increase their vaccinations.

Right or wrong Canada has been very conservative...my guess is once they reach these goals it won’t be an instantaneous opening it will be rolled out or a little delayed. NTo be honest when MN went from 0-60 in 1 week...I was shocked. It seems to be working out...I just highly doubt it will happen that way in Canada.

So many factors :)

T

I believe the increasing pressure from business will accelerate the reopening. Travel and tourism

More news on reopening.

Could border reopen in June?

And Dept of Homeland Security looking at how US citizens prove vaccination for travel. Note US could open border before Canada.

US vaccine passport

Has to happen.

And July 1 for New Brunswick Maine border?

July 1!

billconner: "More news on reopening.


Could border reopen in June?


And Dept of Homeland Security looking at how US citizens prove vaccination for travel. Note US could open border before Canada.


US vaccine passport


Has to happen.

And July 1 for New Brunswick Maine border?

July 1! "

I definitely think it's happening although I'm not sold on June yet. When it does I feel it will be with some restrictions like proof of vaccine and/or (hopefully not) a quarantine. I also believe these restrictions will come from the Canadian side as the U.S. is very opposed to vaccine passports. As I type I am currently planning a fall trip to Temagami.