Homeland Security extends restrictions on non-essential activity

Directly affects Canadian, Mexican travel

DESERT SOUTHWEST (KYMA, KECY) - In an effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and newly discovered Delta variant, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently extended restrictions on non-essential activity to Saturday, August 21.

Despite these restrictions, the Department ensures that the flow of essential trade and travel will continue as normal. "Essential travel" includes (but is not limited to):

• U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the U.S.
• Individuals traveling for medical purposes (e.g., to receive medical treatment in the U.S.)
• Individuals traveling to attend educational institutions
• Individuals traveling to work in the U.S. (e.g., individuals working in the farming or agriculture industry who must travel between the U.S. and Mexico in furtherance of such work)
• Individuals traveling for emergency response and public health purposes (e.g., government officials or emergency responders entering the U.S. to support Federal, state, local, tribal or territorial government efforts to respond to COVID-19 or other emergencies)
• Individuals engaged in lawful cross-border trade (e.g., truck drivers supporting the movement of cargo between the U.S. and Mexico)
• Individuals engaged in official government travel or diplomatic travel
• Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the spouses and children of members of the U.S.
• Armed Forces, returning to the U.S.
• Individuals engaged in military-related travel or operations

The following travel does not fall within the definition of “essential travel” for purposes of this notification:

• Individuals traveling for tourism purposes (e.g., sightseeing, recreation, gambling or attending cultural events).

Although there are exceptions, activities related to food and drink, auction houses, real estate auctions, open house inspections, outdoor and indoor markets, beauty and personal care services, entertainment venues, outdoor recreation and non-residential institutions are all deemed to be non essential.