Why a closed border hasn't kept international flights out of Canada

News that 16 international flights carrying passengers who were later diagnosed with COVID-19 have landed in Canada since June 29 may have taken some Canadians by surprise. After all, aren't borders closed? Hasn't the near-universal response to the pandemic been for countries to encourage their citizens to come home and discourage everyone else from visiting? Why, then, are flights still arriving in Canada from international destinations including Addis Ababa, Cancun and Charlotte, N.C.? The ans