COVID-19 Updates | Windsor Detroit Tunnel

COVID-19 Updates

Public Messages:

Tunnel Bus Service Suspension Until Further Notice currently effective

Travel Restrictions: (Last updated: January 20th, 2021)

Entry into Canada currently effective
- Update on travel restriction exemptions for extended family members and for compassionate reasons
Entry into USA currently effective

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)

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.

Canada government COVID-19 Website: Click Here

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.

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.

DHS COVID-19 Website: Click Here

Tunnel Bus Service Suspension

Last updated: November 18th, 2020 - currently effective

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

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

Travel Restrictions: Entry to Canada

Last updated: January 20th, 2021 - currently effective

CBSA Guidelines for Persons Entering Canada (Southbound Tunnel Traffic)

In addition to the on-going 'essential & trade only’ restrictions (see below), The Canadian government has implemented a “limited exemption” at the Canada-U.S. border that will allow immediate family members of citizens or permanent residents to enter the country. The purpose of this measure is not to allow people to come and go into Canada whenever they like, but rather to help Canadian families reunite during this unprecedented time.

Through this exemption, the government is defining an immediate family member as someone's:

Spouse or common-law partner.
Dependent child.
Parent or step-parent or the parent or step-parent of the person's spouse or common-law partner.
Guardian or tutor.

A number of conditions apply to those seeking to cross

The change does not apply to immediate family members of temporary residents in Canada, such as those on a student or work visa.
Immediate family members must plan to stay in Canada for at least 15 days
The same public health guidelines also apply, including screenings at the border. Travellers will not be admitted if they have COVID-19 or show any signs or symptoms of the coronavirus.
The government will continue to enforce the Quarantine Act during the pandemic, which means those who enter the country from abroad are legally required to self-isolate for 14 days. They must also have “credible” quarantine plans.
The immediate family exemption does not mean that the border will now be opened again to travellers or those seeking to attend a personal or social gathering.
People travelling from abroad must still have a valid visa or electronic travel authorization.

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, March 21st, 2020.
These new measures shall be re-evaluated on February 21st, 2021.
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.

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.

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

These people will be eligible to travel to Canada and will not need to demonstrate that they are entering for a purpose that is non‑optional or non‑discretionary, as long as they

are staying in the country for 15 days or more
provide Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) with the required documentation, including a completed and signed statutory declaration, to show they meet the definition of an extended family member of a Canadian citizen or Canadian permanent resident
meet existing eligibility and admissibility requirements to enter the country
are travelling to Canada with a valid passport and travel document (visa or electronic travel authorization [eTA], if needed)
have received written authorization from IRCC to travel to Canada as an extended family member

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

Travel Restrictions: Entry to USA

Last updated: January 20th, 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 February 21st, 2021.