COVID-19 Updates

Public Messages:

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Tunnel Bus Service Suspension Until Further Notice currently effective

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Travel Restrictions: (Last updated: July19th, 2021)

Message from Windsor Detroit Borderlink Ltd (WDBL)

To Our Valued Customers:

We are open! We appreciate the trust that you place in us and our staff when you use the Tunnel. The Tunnel takes the health and safety of its customers and employees very seriously. Our organization is closely following the recommended guidelines on the steps we can take to help prevent the spread of the virus and we have shared those specific instructions with our employees.

 

We want you to feel confident when using the Tunnel. The Tunnel will continue to monitor and act on this developing situation closely.

 

Thank you for your continued use of the Tunnel. We look forward to seeing you soon.

 

Message from Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

General Announcement - All travellers arriving in Canada are asked to isolate themselves for 14 days. If you develop a fever, a cough or difficulty breathing, call a health care professional or public health authority.

 

Canadians are asked to avoid non-essential travel outside Canada. For the latest and most up-to-date information, visit Canada.ca/coronavirus or contact the coronavirus information line at 1-833-784-4397.

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Canada government COVID-19 Website: Click Here

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June 21, 2021 - Today, the Government of Canada announced details of the first phase of its approach to easing border measures for some travellers entering Canada.

 

However, it is important to note that travel restrictions remain in place for all foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens, seeking to travel to Canada for discretionary (non-essential) or optional travel – such as tourism and recreation.

 

Examples of optional or discretionary travel include, but are not limited to: hikes across the border, social events, such as birthday parties or weddings, boating across the border, camping, picking up a pet, visiting or checking on a seasonal residence, etc. U.S. citizens without a right of entry to Canada or who are not otherwise eligible to enter Canada under the travel restrictions, attempting to visit Canada for an optional reason will be turned away at the border, even if they are fully vaccinated.

 

Before heading to the border, U.S travellers should be informed and know their obligations. The Government of Canada has a website to assist travellers in finding out if they can enter Canada and, if able to enter, what their public health obligations are: Find out if you can enter Canada

 

The Government of Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to prioritize the health and safety of Canadians. As vaccination, case counts and hospitalization rates evolve, the Government of Canada will continue to consider further targeted measures at the borders—and when to lift or adjust them—to keep Canadians safe and the economy running.

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Message from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

As of March 3, DHS is augmenting the HHS Secretary’s Operations Center (SOC) with 20 personnel: 16 individuals from FEMA, three from DHS headquarters, and one from U.S. Coast Guard. These personnel are assisting the HHS-led interagency response through increased support and coordination.

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Together, CBP and CWMD have screened tens of thousands of air travelers at 13 airports, helping Americans return to the U.S. safely and keeping threats to the broader public out of the country. DHS refers such threats directly to CDC for further examination.

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DHS COVID-19 Website: Click Here

CBP COVID-19 Updates and Announcement: Click Here

 

Tunnel Bus Service Suspension

Last updated: July 19th, 2020 - currently effective

Starting from 8PM, March 19th, 2020, Tunnel Bus service will be suspended until further notice.

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City of Windsor COVID-19 updates can be found here.

 
 

Travel Restrictions: Entry to Canada

Last updated: July 19th, 2021 - currently effective

CBSA Guidelines for Persons Entering Canada (Southbound Tunnel Traffic)

The Government of Canada had released a new set of entry policies and procedures (effective February 22nd, 2021) that includes COVID-19 testing before and after entry into Canada.

 

Essential & Trade Only Restrictions:

  • All commercial and work-related travel is continuing unimpeded, while entry for purposes such as tourism and recreation is not permitted at this time.

  • These new measures took effect at 12:01 EDT on Saturday, February 21st, 2020.

  • These new measures shall be re-evaluated monthly.

  • This means that commercial vehicles carrying legitimate goods will be allowed entry, as well as people crossing the border for work.

  • CBSA continues to process all commercial goods and cargo. 

  • Border crossings by healthy people for essential non-economic reasons are also allowed, such as medical or compassionate reasons, provided they have not been outside the United States or Canada in the previous 14 days.

  • Indigenous Peoples who live at the Canada/US border are still able to cross the border as usual.

  • CBSA has implemented enhanced health screening measures at all Canadian Ports of Entry. Border officers are querying travellers on the state of their health and observing for signs of respiratory infection. Protocols provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada will continue to be followed including advice to self isolate and practice social distancing.

  • Canadians and Permanent Residents can cross the border to return home and will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

  • Self-isolation does not apply to persons who must cross the border for work and are not showing symptoms. 

 

Expanded Categories of Travellers:

In addition to the above, CBSA had expanded categories of travellers who may be eligible to enter into Canada effective on Oct 8, 2020. More details here.

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Under the new process, the following extended family members of Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents would be eligible to travel to Canada:

  • individuals in an exclusive dating relationship with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident for at least 1 year who have spent time in the physical presence of the Canadian citizen or permanent resident during the relationship and these individuals’ dependent children

  • non-dependent children (adult children who do not meet the definition of a dependent child in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations)

  • grandchildren

  • siblings (including half- and step-siblings)

  • grandparents

 

Phase 1 of Easing Border Measures for Travellers Entering Canada:

The first phase of Canada's approach to easing border measures will begin on July 5, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EDT, for fully vaccinated travellers who are eligible to enter Canada under the current travel restrictions. This phase will continue to restrict entry to Canada of foreign nationals, unless they already meet an exemption set out in the border restrictions, maintains pre- and on arrival testing for all travellers, and monitors for variants of concern.

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The eased border measures applies to fully vaccinated travellers who are elgible to enter Canada.

Full details for Phase 1 of easing border measures: Click Here

Phase 1 Government of Canada news release: Click Here

Phase 1 COVID-19 and travel: Examptioins from testing and quarantine: Click Here

 

Phase 2 of easing border measures for fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada

On August 9, 2021, at 12:01 a.m. EDT, fully vaccinated citizens and permanent residents of the United States (U.S.), currently residing in the U.S., will be permitted to enter Canada for discretionary (non-essential) travel. Entry to Canada will continue to be prohibited for U.S. travellers who are not fully vaccinated and for all other foreign nationals, unless they already meet an exemption set out in the Orders made under the Quarantine Act.

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To be eligible to enter Canada, fully vaccinated American citizens and permanent residents must have received the full series of a vaccine - or combination of vaccines - accepted by the Government of Canada at least 14 days prior to entering Canada. 

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In addition, fully vaccinated travellers must also:

  • provide COVID-19-related information electronically through ArriveCAN (app or web portal) including proof of vaccination prior to departing for Canada (subject to limited exceptions);

  • meet the pre-entry testing requirements;

  • be asymptomatic upon arrival; and

  • have a paper or digital copy of their vaccination documentation in English or French (or certified translation, along with the original) ready to show a government official on request.

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Government of Canada news release here.

More details of the August 9th changes here.

Phase 2 easing border measures infographics here.

​Am I Eligible to Enter Canada?

- Find out if you can travel to Canada: Click Here

- For further details, please visit CBSA's website: Click Here

- For details of travel restriction exemptions for extended family members and for compassionate reasons: Click Here

- What to expect when entering Canada by land: Click Here

 

Travel Restrictions: Entry to USA

Last updated: July 19th, 2021 - currently effective

US CBP Guidelines for Persons Leaving Canada (Northbound Tunnel Traffic)

  • U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the United States;

  • Individuals traveling for medical purposes (e.g., to receive medical treatment in the United States)

  • Individuals traveling to attend educational institutions;

  • Individuals traveling to work in the United States (e.g., individuals working in the farming or agriculture industry who must travel between the United States and Canada in furtherance of such work);

  • Individuals traveling for emergency response and public health purposes (e.g., government officials or emergency responders entering the United States to support Federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial government efforts to respond to COVID-19 or other emergencies);

  • Individuals engaged in lawful cross-border trade (e.g., truck drivers supporting the movement of cargo between the United States and Canada);

  • Individuals engaged in official government travel or diplomatic travel;

  • Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the spouses and children of members of the U.S. Armed Forces, returning to the United States; and

  • Individuals engaged in military-related travel or operations.

  • Current restrictions are effective and due for review on a monthly basis.

CBP COVID-19 Updates and Announcement: Click Here