Editor's note: The above video originally aired in Aug. 2020.
Siblings, grandparents and adult children of Canadians and permanent residents are among those who will soon be exempt from COVID-19 border restrictions in Canada.
The expansion of who can enter Canada comes after increasing public pressure on the government to show more compassion to families who are separated.
Those who don’t directly qualify under the expanded family rules will be able to apply to enter for compassionate reasons. Canada first closed its borders to all but a shortlist of essential workers in the spring in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Starting on October 20, 2020, international students may be allowed into Canada if they will be attending a designated learning institution that has been identified by their provincial or territorial government as having a COVID‑19 readiness plan.
The Canadian government says people should not make any travel plans until they have met all requirements and obtained all necessary authorizations to qualify to come to Canada under the new guidelines.