A Niagara Falls tour boat in Canada carrying about six people passes by a tour boat on the US side, carrying tourists at a 50% capacity level. This is just daily life during tours of the Falls, of which both Canada and the US have wildly different opinions on which level of capacity is safer.

This drastic difference means the difference between containing the spread and allowing it to pass freely, as Canada, which has the virus mostly contained, has figured out. According to Global News, one person interviewed, Amanda Barnes from Ontario, said, "You can see why the pandemic is raging in the United States and not in Canada when you look at the difference between the boats."

tour boats in canada and NY for niagara falls
via Reuters

This significant differentiation between the two countries follows the same problem both are finding at the border - while one country has managed to contain much of the outbreak, another is still in the red, struggling every day. As tourists defy border mandates and refuse to quarantine for a full 14 days, the issue continues to grow without a solution.

Breaking Quarantine Laws And Paying The Price

Canada has strict laws in place that require travelers to quarantine for 14 days after crossing the border, much like many states in the US. However, a problem arises when travelers refuse to listen, which is exactly what happened recently on Prince Edward Island. According to Skift, earlier this month, a man crossed the border without self-isolating. He tested positive for COVID-19, and then passed it on to four other people, thus encouraging the spread the world is trying so desperately to prevent.

the US border to canada closed
via Times Union

Since March 21st, more than 175,000 travelers have been contacted to confirm their status and self-isolation. Physical verification has been required for nearly 1,500 people who have crossed the border.

us border to canada closing
via The Globe And Mail

This past week, one couple from Florida was found and fined for crossing the border into Ontario. Furthermore, the police have fined tourists for hiking in Banff National Park - a popular tourist destination - while en route to Alaska.

Related: COVID-19 And South Korea: What We Can All Learn From How They Handled It

Pressure From Neighbors In The South

Despite the growing concerns over border crossings and the distinct case numbers in both countries, Canada officials are feeling the pressure of reopening. A total of 29 US lawmakers have proposed a reopening plan, according to Skift, even though roughly 81% of Canadians disagree with the proposal or any type of border opening.

a press conference in canada
via Agassiz Harrison Observer

The push comes from US citizens who want to be with their family and friends, claiming that the current border status is unfair to those who have waited months to be together. While the pressures are mounting for Canada to agree to a border reopening, there remains no solution to safely allowing travel without confirmation that every traveler will self-isolate for 14 days. With the virus taking up to two weeks to show up, and the potential for carriers to be asymptomatic, there's no way officials can promise safety.

Canada has also faced internal challenges with its own residents self-isolating. Employees from Irving Oil were given permission to travel to the US without quarantining upon their return, only to have that exemption eventually revoked. The associates were eventually isolated from others, but there's no way to account for the time in between, as is the case with many travelers.

Canada's cases remain at 111,833, while the US has a confirmed 3.97 million as of July.

Next: This Is How Flying Is Expected To Change After Covid-19