The US has extended its closure of land borders with Canada and Mexico for non-essential travel until at least April 21, according to Reuters. The travel ban follows an assessment by the three countries that non-essential travel poses an additional risk of spread of the coronavirus.
The extension is the second announced under President Joe Biden and comes as lawmakers in the northern border called for the lifting of the nearly year-old restrictions.
The Biden administration has been reviewing whether to impose COVID-19 testing requirements for land border crossings but has not issued new requirements.
In January, Biden directed the US officials to commence diplomatic outreach to the governments of Canada and Mexico regarding public health protocols for land ports of entry.
Border towns and businesses have been hard hit by the lack of cross-border traffic.
Hundreds of thousands of people cross the US-Mexico border daily, with the US alleging that the latter has extremely limited COVID-19 testing capacity.
