The Canadian Government announced on Monday that they will open their side of the border to non-essential travelers with very specific conditions.
First condition is that all people attempting to enter Canada must be fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to attempting entry.
Second condition is that all people entering Canada, even when vaccinated, must also posses a NEGATIVE TEST result taken within 72 hours of entry into Canada.
That second condition ladies and gentlemen is a huge expense. So who will pay? Teams? Leagues? Players?
This means, any team in the USA playing in a Canadian league must get everyone tested before crossing the border into Canada to play games. This will also mean that every Canadian team will need to get tested completely before crossing into the USA to play games.
Teams will also have to get tested before returning to their home country.
Lets not get excited so fast. The United States though HAS NOT made a decision on border reopening. So, as of today, Canadians can not drive across to the United States, even when the Canada side opens.
The White House Press Secretary said this yesterday;
“We are continuing to review our travel restrictions and any decisions about reopening travel will by guided by our public health and medical experts,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.
This makes it unclear if the Canada side is open but the United States is not, there will likely remain no travel. Border opening must be done on both sides. If one side is open and the other is not, there will be no travel.
The third condition is that every person entering Canada will also have to register on ArriveCAN, and must include all of their travel plans.
Unvaccinated people will not be allowed to enter Canada. No exceptions.
And if there is any suspicion of not meeting all conditions, any random person can be forced into three day quarantine for more testing.
So, while Canadian Junior A and B now have a life line to American players as of August 9th, baring no mass outbreaks of COVID, there are still question marks for team travel, and those are some big question marks.
The American policy on border crossing has yet to be announced, and Europeans will fall under similar conditions as of September 9, 2021.
Joseph Kolodziej – Adviser
