BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Canadian government announced Wednesday it will loosen quarantine rules for Canadians returning to the country after traveling.

It will happen at a yet-to-be-announced date in early-July.


What You Need To Know

  • The Canadian government announced plans to slightly loosen its border restrictions in early July
  • Federal leaders in New York are looking for more, however
  • Congressman Chris Jacobs says he's hoping for more progress very soon

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"I'm glad something's happening but we certainly need more answers, more specifics," Rep. Chris Jacobs, R-NY-27, said.

The change benefits Canadians already classified as essential travelers who currently have to quarantine for two weeks and stay at an approved hotel for part of that period. The quarantine for fully-vaccinated travelers would instead last until a COVID-19 test comes back negative.

Jacobs said it's still not an ideal situation.

"If they are now saying that you can come up if you're a fully vaccinated family member but you still have to quarantine, even if it's a couple days, that's going to be very problematic for some people,” he said. “The science behind why you mandate that if the person coming up is fully vaccinated is very sketchy.”

On top of that, Jacobs, whose mother-in-law lives in Ontario, and Rep. Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, pointed out even the planned change to this point does not appear to include American travelers with loved ones in Canada. Jacobs is hoping not just for more clarity, but possibly further easing of restrictions by both nations in the very near future.

"I think we're getting momentum," he said. "I just haven't seen it translate into sufficient results that we deserve and the citizens of both sides of the border deserve."

The Republican congressman also introduced legislation calling for more reporting and transparency from the Biden administration, which the Democrat Higgins and Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik have already joined as co-sponsors. Jacobs said when Biden's term started, the president called for a bi-national plan within 14 days.

"We've heard nothing of that,” he said. “Nothing on what kind of diplomatic activities have been going on. So essentially this legislation calls for that. And in 30 days, the administration reports to the Congress on what they have done, because I'm concerned it’s very little.”

Jacobs said he hopes to get more colleagues to join the legislation when he returns to Washington next week, and also plans to reach out to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. He said the bill does not necessarily have to reach a floor vote to be effective.