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<\/i> Updated: April 3, 2022 @ 1:47 am<\/small>
North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas speaks about changes to crossing the US\/Canadian border at a Chamber event Wednesday.<\/p>\n
North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas speaks about changes to crossing the US\/Canadian border at a Chamber event Wednesday.
PLATTSBURGH \u2014 The first ever Reunion Day is underway in the North Country.
With Canada\u2019s pre-entry testing requirement for fully vaccinated individuals crossing the land border officially being dropped today, casual travel between Canada and the United States is expected to become much easier.
This will essentially \u201creunite\u201d the citizens from both countries who were separated the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But despite Canada\u2019s testing requirement change, other requirements still remain in place for Americans and Canadians looking to cross the border.
Being fully vaccinated is one of those requirements, North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said at a Chamber event Wednesday.
\u201cFrom my understanding, fully vaccinated means they require the first two shots… but the booster is an addition, it\u2019s not a requirement,\u201d Douglas told the Press-Republican.
\u201cTesting requirements are gone for the vaccinated. Also, quarantine requirements are still in effect for the unvaccinated.\u201d
At the event, Clinton County Legislator Rick Potiker (R-Area 5, Schuyler Falls) called on both the United States and Canada to drop the vaccination requirement.
\u201cOn behalf of the Clinton County Legislature, I applaud this step toward a full reopening of the Canadian border, this is important and we need to see the cross border traffic,\u201d Potiker said.
\u201cI would like to join Elise Stefanik in calling on the United States and Canada to drop all remaining travel requirements for northern border travelers and to drop the vaccine mandates that continue to impede cross border travel. The time has come to bring our communities back together.\u201d
ARRIVECAN APP
Canada has also implemented the use of the ArriveCan App to make travel easier.
Proof of vaccination and other essential information can be uploaded by any person wanting to enter the country, Douglas said.
\u201cCanada has implemented a new pre-recording process (ArriveCan) that is not strictly pandemic related and is going to remain in place. All indications are it is here permanently, and we\u2019ll just have to get used to it,\u201d he said during the event.
\u201cWithin 72 hours of when you plan to go to Canada, you need to go on that app, and say \u2018ok, I\u2019m planning to cross the border at Lacolle on Tuesday at approximately 10 a.m.,\u2019 and you just x some boxes, it\u2019s very simple, answer some other questions they ask you, you do that and then you\u2019re set to go, and they have that when you arrive at the border.\u201d
Email Carly Newton:
cnewton@pressrepublican.com<\/a>
Twitter: CarlySNewton
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