Vaccinated U.S. Citizens Can Visit Canada’s Restaurants, Bars Starting Aug. 9

Canada will let fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents across the bridges and through the tunnels for non-essential travel starting at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, August 9, the Hill reports.

This means that Detroit residents who’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19 can soon visit Canada’s restaurants, bars, casino, and nightclubs.

“As a first step, starting August 9, 2021, Canada plans to begin allowing entry to American citizens and permanent residents, who are currently residing in the United States, and have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to entering Canada for non-essential travel,” the Canadian government said in a statement on Monday.

Restaurant owners in Windsor were busy opening their dining rooms last week to welcome customers for indoor dining as Ontario moved into its latest stage of reopening, the CBC reported.

Under the Canadian reopening plan, as of Thursday, July 14, restaurants have no capacity limits as long as patrons can physically distance. Nightclubs reopened, with a maximum of 250 people or 25 percent capacity.

The manager of Tommy’s Barbecue in South Windsor told the CBC that they were calling back staff and undergoing training. Windsor’s Penalty Box restaurant said it would take a “wait-and-see” approach before reopening for indoor dining.

On its website, Caesars Windsor says the casino will reopen Friday, July 23.

Travelers to Canada — even those who are fully vaccinated — must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival. Air passengers need to take the test within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of their final flight to Canada. Unvaccinated or under-vaccinated travelers will still have to quarantine for 14 days. Unvaccinated children under 12 will be admitted with a vaccinated parent. Cash will not be accepted at the border.

The United States said Wednesday, July 21, that it will continue to bar nonessential travel from Canada to the U.S. through Saturday, Aug. 21, according to a Federal Register document published Wednesday from Customs and Border Patrol.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, essential travel to the U.S. includes:

• U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the United States
• Medical travel
• Those attending educational institutions
• Work travel
• Emergency response and public health travel
• Lawful, cross-border trade
• Official government or diplomatic travel
• Members and family members of the U.S. Armed Forces returning to the U.S. and others partaking in military-related travel or operations.

Non-essential travel from the United States to its neighbor had been banned since March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged.

• Government of Canada announces easing of border measures for fully vaccinated travellers [Official]
• Canada to open border for vaccinated Americans starting Aug. 9 [The Hill]
• Fully vaccinated tourists will soon be able to visit Canada again [CBC]
• Ontario is entering Step 3 of the province’s reopening plan next week. Here’s what will change [CBC]