Canadians have lined up in recent days at Detroit Mailbox to collect the packages they ordered during the pandemic, but have been unable to cross the border to collect them.
The land border between the United States and Canada has been open for a few weeks to fully vaccinated Canadian travelers, and as of Tuesday, they can cross for short trips without needing a negative PCR test to re-enter Canada.
“It’s chaos. I’ll tell you,” said Ryan Hill, owner of Detroit Mailbox. “That’s good. We needed it. We’ve practically gone out of business for the past 19 months, even though the doors were open.”
Hill estimates that the company has around 25,000 packages that people have ordered but have not been able to pick up in the past 20 months. Packages now arrive as quickly as they leave.
“The first day it wasn’t that busy, to be honest with you. I think people were a little fearful and scared,” he said.
“I know a lot of my customers are worried that this new variant might close the border, so I think it gives them some urgency to cross, but I hope they keep everything open.”
While the United States has confirmed its first case of the omicron variant of the coronavirus in a traveler who arrived in San Francisco from South Africa on November 22 – so far no changes have been made to the rules put in place. work at land borders by both governments.
However, starting Monday, the United States is forcing Canadians and other foreign visitors arriving by air to be tested for COVID-19 within 24 hours of departure, regardless of their vaccine status, as part of the program. a pandemic plan for the winter month.
“I hope they keep the PCR test for short visits off the table. We’re back to normal now. I think in the new year that will be a good indication once the Christmas shopping gets done. gone from where we are at, ”Hill said.
In Frankenmuth, Michigan, Michael Zehnder said he received many calls from Canadians wishing to visit the Bavarian Inn Lodge.
“Over the past few days we have had an increase in calls and guests are calling from Canada,” said Zehnder, general manager of the hostel.
“We are delighted to welcome our Canadian visitors once again.
Canadians wonder what types of services are available and what to expect on a visit, Zehnder said.
Ontario and Michigan have very different public health measures when it comes to tackling COVID-19. For example, wearing a mask in Michigan is a “preference” when eating and shopping, Zehnder said.
But the company is taking precautions to keep people safe, such as encouraging physical distancing, hand washing, and strengthening cleaning routines already in place.
“We haven’t seen our Canadian friends for quite some time. It’s noticeable,” he said.
“Frankenmuth is very fortunate to be so close to our neighbors in Canada, because when you think about it, we’re only about an hour and a half away, about 90 miles from Sarnia and Windsor.”
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