Canada stated that it will relax restrictions on American travelers next month, at least until August 21, a few days later.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that the U.S. land borders with Mexico and Canada will be closed for another month, banning non-essential travel, just a few days after Canada said it plans to relax restrictions on U.S. travel.

The Department of Homeland Security said on Wednesday that restrictions on entering the United States by land or ferry will continue until at least August 21.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the United States restricted non-essential travel into the country in March 2020 (according to data from Johns Hopkins University, the pandemic has caused more than 609,000 deaths in the United States) and extended its relationship with The border between Mexico and Canada is closed once a month.

The Canadian government said on Monday, It will allow As of August 9, fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents can enter the country without isolation, which indicates that Canada’s vaccination rate has increased and the infection rate has been reduced.

“The gradual reopening will allow our health authorities to monitor the COVID-19 situation at home and abroad. Canadians work hard and sacrifice for each other, and because of this, we can safely take the next step,” Health Minister Patty Hay Du said.

But after the Ottawa announcement, people questioned whether the relaxation of restrictions was mutual.

The flags of Mexico, the United States, and Canada were photographed at a security booth on the Zaragoza-Isletta transit bridge in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico [File: Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters]

A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the White House plans to hold a new round of high-level meetings to discuss travel restrictions and the possibility of mandatory use of the COVID-19 vaccine, but has not yet made any decision.

In early June, the White House established an inter-agency working group with the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Mexico to study how to finally lift the restrictions.

Last month, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard (Marcelo Ebrard) stated that the country plans to step up its coronavirus vaccination work at the Mexican-US border with a view to lifting restrictions.

“Mexico will make extraordinary vaccination efforts so that our city has similar standards for vaccination as the United States,” Ebrard says At the press conference on June 15.

He said: “Once we reach the stage that will begin today across the border, there will be no hygienic reason to maintain these restrictions.”

According to statistics from Johns Hopkins University, Mexico has so far reported more than 2.6 million coronavirus cases and 236,000 deaths, while Canada has recorded more than 1.4 million infections and 26,470 deaths.

Although almost 60% of U.S. adults Has been fully vaccinated and health officials have caveat Infections are on the rise, especially among the millions of people in the country who have not been vaccinated.