A long line of vehicles waits at the Coutts-Sweetgrass border crossing Monday morning as the U.S. opened land borders to non-essential traffic for the first time since March of 2020 and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.--Lethbridge Herald photo Dale Woodard
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Long lines of cars were sighted at Alberta’s international borders on Monday, but day trippers are being tripped up by testing requirements, according to reports.
That was the first day that Canada-United States borders were reopened to non-essential travel since the start of the Coronavirus in March 2020 – a span of 20 months.
Media reported that Snowbirds began crossing the borders at midnight with motorhomes, though some would-be cross-border shoppers contacted the News looking for information about testing requirements and other rules.
“I don’t think anybody knows what’s going on,” said one caller who didn’t leave a name.
That didn’t entirely deter some southeastern Albertans from going across on opening day.
Officials in Havre, Mont. told the News they already saw Alberta’s white and red licence plates on Monday afternoon.
Local travel industry workers say Hatters are now thinking about holidays
Gloria Taylor, of Vision Travel in Medicine Hat, says her office has seen a marked increase in inquiries about trips abroad as Canadians scope out winter vacations.
They should be aware of vaccination requirements, as well as increased costs for testing and travel insurance, she said.
“We are seeing a lot of interest – people just want to get away – and not just to the U.S., but Mexico and the Caribbean as well,” said Taylor.
Flying requires different levels of testing and a vaccination, depending on the American state or country of destination.
No test is required to enter the U.S. by land, but Canadian border officers will require a negative COVID test from within the previous 72 hours – a timeline that has some travellers attempting to get tests prior to leaving in order to avoid issues.
However, a positive test while stateside could mean long delay, or if severe symptoms present themselves, potentially expensive medical expenses.
That makes discussing out-of-province insurance a crucial matter for would-be travellers to consider, said Taylor.
“It’s definitely important,” she said. “And testing, if it’s US$150 and you’re a family of four, that becomes a cost consideration as well.”
That’s led to people attempting to get the test before they leave the country for use on overnight trips, and a question of testing capacity in small centres and rural areas.
While truck drivers, and those employed or with work commitments in the U.S., have been able to cross the border, Monday was the first day that non-essential visitors were allowed back and forth.
Last spring the News interviewed Eric Mies, the owner of Westwind Courier in Havre, which holds packages that require U.S. delivery for customers from Medicine Hat.
Company officials said some pickups of goods stockpiled over 20 months took place on Monday.
Mies, himself, was away on a moose-hunting trip to British Columbia ˆ an annual excursion that had been on hold since late 2019.
Julea Robbins, executive director of the Havre Chamber of Commerce, says her organization is lobbying state health officials to bring down the cost of testing in hopes of increasing tourism, though availability of tests appears to be steady.
“We’ve already had one visitor come through our doors today,” said Robbins on Monday afternoon.
“We have heard the concerns, because it is expensive, but we’re super, super excited to welcome Canadians back and we hope it gets better and better.
