The federal government announced on Tuesday that, at least for the next thirty days, Canada's borders would remain closed to non-essential travel.

This is the third extension to the border restrictions, which began in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and had been extended to June 21, 2020.

In a press conference following up Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's comments, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland called the decision a "collaborative" one between Canada and its trading partners, particularly the United States.

"It was based on a mutual recognition that the measures we currently have in place are working very well. And in particular, that both countries have managed to do something which is really hard. Which is to have restrictions on non-essential travel in place, while essential travel continues."

The announcement comes only days after recent social media reports were circulating about American travellers visiting Banff by doing nothing more than telling CBSA agents that they were passing through on their way to Alaska in order to circumvent the non-essential travel restriction and the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Freeland admitted that such travel was allowed on both sides; citing Canadians from Campobello Island in New Brunswick who must routinely travel through the United States to access other parts of Canada.

"Having said that, the RCMP in Banff is following up on this particular report and is encouraging Canadians to let them know if they see other people who seem to fall into this category. And Minister Blair has instructed the CBSA to take further care to ensure that the people coming into Canada from the US are truly coming for essential reasons."

The new date for restrictions to be lifted is July 21, 2020. However, officials are watching both Canadian and U.S COVID-19 rates closely.