Border restrictions for fully vaccinated Canadians loosen, but plan for wider reopening remains unclear

While border restrictions started to loosen today for some Canadians, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would only say that steps toward reopening the U.S.-Canada border will be rolled outover the next few weeks.

As of this morning,Canadians and permanent residents who have completed their dosesof a COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Canadaare now able toforgo the 14-day quarantine, which has been a requirement since March of last year. The measures alsocoverthose registered under the Indian Actand some foreign nationals already allowed to enter Canada,includinginternational students.

Eligible travellerswho arrive byairwill also be allowed to skip out on the federal government's requiredstay in a government-approved hotel.

However, thetravel restrictions between Canada and the United States preventing all non-essential trips, including tourism, are to remain in place until at least July 21.

"We're very hopeful that we're going to see new steps on reopening announced in the coming weeks," Trudeau saidduring an announcement inSault Ste. Marie, Ont. today.

"We're going to make sure that we're not seeing a resurgence of COVID-19 casesbecause nobody wants to go back to further restrictions, after having done so much and sacrificed so much to get to this point."

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Trudeau says federal government "will proceed in a responsible, step-by-step fashion" on reopening border

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As of today, fully vaccinated Canadians entering the country can forgo the 14 day quarantine. But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is standing by a scaled approach to easing border restrictions and non-essential travel between the U.S. and Canada remains restricted until July 21.

Today's gradual reopening marks the first time eligible travellers have to start showing electronic proof of their vaccinations.Those entering the countrymust electronically submit COVID-19-related information to the government'sArriveCANapp before arriving,meet the pre- and on-arrival test requirements, be asymptomaticand have a suitable quarantine plan.

Travellers are required to submita suitable quarantine planeven if they're"seeking the fully vaccinated exemption," says the government's website.

The federal government alsohas saidchildren who aren't fully vaccinated will be able to go home with their parents, but must quarantine and follow testing rules.

The Canada Border Services Agency saidtravellers arriving before 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 5 wouldnot be eligible for the reduced public health measures. When the updated guidelines were first announced, the cutofftime had been set for11:59 p.m. Monday, but that was changed.

Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti, an infectious disease physician withTrillium Health Partners, said the risk calculus is at a point where easing the border restrictions makes sense.

"Before, all we talked about was COVID risk. But now that we've been able to defang the virus with vaccines these vaccines are wonderfulwe can now bring in a risk trade-off," he said.

"We now know bringing in travellers can be done because the illness isn't as severe."