Border swamped as COVID-19 testing lifts for vaccinated Canadian travellers

Blaine’s deputy mayor tells CityNews the first weekend of travel since fully-vaccinated travellers were able to make their way across the border without a COVID-19 test made for a chaotic and busy few days.

“The rate at which they were processing people was not matching the number of people there suddenly were [crossing the border],” Richard May explained, adding major lineups even disturbed local traffic.

“It seemed to include a lot of people that weren’t used to the usual courtesies. So there was a lot of traffic of people lined up right through the middle of intersections and blocking the regular in-town traffic from being able to come and go.”

As for the impact on businesses, May says it’s too soon to tell if the change on April 1 has had a positive effect. But he admits there was a giant uptick in the number of people trying to cross through the border.

“It would take a long time to examine whether or not we’re already seeing an impact financially, because as a border town where we had previously, up to until two years ago, relied on a lot of traffic, not just of Canadians going south, but of Americans who were on the way to Canada, just stopping by our little town and perhaps having a meal or getting some gas or other amenities on the way north,” he explained.

However, Kylie Bestule, the owner of the Peace Arch Cafe in Blaine, says this rule change has already indicated a big boost for sales, ‘undoubtedly.’

“I would say over the past few weeks, we have just seen more Canadian traffic in general and then definitely this weekend for sure.”

When Beste visited Bellingham, she said she even noticed a change of pace down south with “a lot more Canadian plates.”

“It’s great for business. We’re really happy about it. And it’s also just been fun to see some of the people that we haven’t gotten to see for a couple of years. We had a really strong Canadian clientele before COVID. And it was hard to lose that and hard to just not get a chance to see some of those people that you regularly see. And so I would say that we’ve seen an uptick this weekend.”

Read More: 

• Vaccinated travellers to Canada no longer need to be tested for COVID-19

• Feds confirm end of pre-arrival COVID testing at borders for vaccinated travellers

• American businesses, tourists thrilled Canada dropping COVID test entry requirement

• Tourism industry expected to boom as pre-arrival tests dropped for vaccinated

CityNews also spoke to drivers making their way across the border into Canada.

One traveller admitted that the past few years have been difficult for him since his daughter lived in Burnaby.

“I live in Bellingham, and it’s rough not having seen her more than a couple of times in the last three years,” he said but added the change in restrictions ensures he will be making the trip north again.

While pre-entry testing requirements for people who’ve received a full course of a COVID-19 vaccine have been dropped, travellers could still be randomly tested when they arrive.

And for those looking to visit our neighbours down south, you will still need to complete the ArriveCAN app’s questionnaire within 72 hours before returning to Canada.