Closed border crossing counters are seen in Surrey, Canada, March 20, 2020. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Canada-U.S. border will close to non-essential travel at midnight Friday and both countries will turn back asylum seekers crossing the border. (Photo by Andrew Soong/Xinhua)
OTTAWA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday that the Canada-U.S. border will likely be closed to non-essential travel from Friday night to curtail the rapid spread of COVID-19.
"We are working on the final details with the U.S. but we expect the measures to come into effect sometime during the night between Friday and Saturday in about a day and a half," Trudeau told reporters from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, where he is in self-isolation after his wife tested positive for the virus last week.
The measure on non-essential travel between the Canadian-U.S. border was first announced Wednesday after Trudeau finalized the agreement in a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. It excludes aircrews, diplomats, immediate families and U.S. citizens.
Trudeau said "essential travel" will continue and will not disrupt the flow of supply chains bringing essential goods like food, fuel, medicines and other services into either country.
On Wednesday, Trudeau announced that his government would provide a fund of 82 billion Canadian dollars (about 56 billion U.S. dollars) in direct spending and deferred taxes to help Canadians deal with the COVID-19 crisis.
The Trudeau government intends to briefly recall the Canadian parliament to approve legislation that will make the funding available. The parliament was adjourned on March 13 until April 20 but is expected to resume early next week.
