Key sentence:
- North Dakota businesses are gearing up to welcome Manitoba visitors and shoppers for the very first time in over two years.
- The CBSA advises Manitobans should be aware of a few things before crossing the US border.
- A negative PCR test must be conducted within 72 hours of the border crossing to re-enter the nation for all passengers aged five and up.
As the land border between the United States and Canada reopened to non-essential travellers on Monday, North Dakota businesses are gearing up to welcome Manitoba visitors and shoppers for the very first time in over two years.
According to Heather LeMoine of the North Dakota Department of Commerce, there has been a noticeable surge in interest from north of the border within days running up to Monday’s reopening.
“We’re aware of testing requirements, restrictions, and guidelines,” she explained, “so we’re continuing to learn and adjust as we receive more queries.”
“We’ve seen a 250 per cent surge in website traffic from Canada in the previous few weeks.” We’ve received many phone calls and emails, so we know there’s a lot of interest, which is fantastic. However, the biggest source of concern is the return requirements.”
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) advises Manitobans should be aware of a few things before crossing the US border for the very first time in a long time.
While you won’t need much more than vaccination confirmation to enter the United States, returning isn’t that simple.
Border police are ready and waiting to manage an influx of visitors returning home from a road trip in the United States, according to Lisa Laurencelle-Peace, acting director of the CBSA’s prairie region, who told 680 CJOB.
Also read: On Monday, Manitoba reported 156 new cases of COVID-19
A negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test must be conducted within 72 hours of the border crossing to re-enter the nation for all passengers aged five and up. Other tests that involve nose swabs or saliva samples will be acceptable as well.
Travellers may be selected randomly for COVID-19 testing at the border, which means they must be prepared with a potential quarantine plan to wait before returning home.
Laurencelle-Peace stated, “Officers are ready to undertake those verifications – the PCR verifications, the vaccination verifications, and the ArriveCAN app verification.”
“When you return to Canada, our officers will have to look into several things.”
Nearly two years of blocked borders have wreaked havoc on North Dakota’s economy, which relies largely on Canadian tourists, according to LeMoine.
“We watch those border crossing figures — the passenger numbers — to see how much traffic comes into North Dakota on a monthly and annual basis,” she said.
“We’ve seen a 90% reduction in cross-border travel.” The reduction in bus and personal car passengers amounts to approximately 700,000 trips, or nearly $200 million in missed visitor spending, which has a significant financial impact on communities throughout North Dakota.”
Source from Global news.
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