US-Canada border to stay closed as New York demands more travellers quarantine on arrival

With cases of Covid-19 surging across US, regions with virus under control are fighting to stop second wave

The US-Canada border is expected to remain closed until at least 21 August, according to Canadian officials to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

CNN reports that the extension will include more thorough enforcement and surveillance at the border.

An announcement confirming the decision is expected from Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau later this week.

Canada recently extended a global travel ban until the end of August. The US rule is separate.

The US-Canada border was closed in March to all non-essential traffic, those entering Canada must undertake a 14-day quarantine.

Exemptions are made for truck drivers, healthcare workers and flight crews among other groups — most recently expanded to include sports professionals.

Polling shows a vast majority of Canadians support keeping the border closed as cases of Covid-19 surge in many US states, while Canada has its outbreak comparatively under control.

Similarly, the New York region, once the epicentre of the outbreak in the US, is determined to keep its case numbers down.

On Tuesday Governor Andrew Cuomo added four more states to the list of places from which travellers must quarantine for 14 days on arrival.

New Mexico, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio join a further 18 states where the positive test rate is higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a seven-day rolling average or there is a 10 per cent or higher positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average.

The list comprises: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.

Delaware was removed, having fallen below the criteria.

Governor Cuomo is serious about enforcing the quarantine, but it is unclear how. Despite the threat of a $10,000 fine there are still cases of non-compliance.

An outbreak in Rensselaer County was recently traced to a group arriving from Georgia that did not quarantine, according to the governor.

Travellers arriving from those states will now have to fill out a form with contact information and a travel history that officials will use to ensure they isolate.

Failure to fill out the form before leaving the airport is punishable with a $2,000 fine and mandatory quarantine.

Airlines will provide the forms to passengers and enforcement teams will be at airports across the state to request proof of the form's completion at arrivals gates.