OTTAWA — The U.S.-Canada border isn’t opening again any time soon if Canada has anything to say about it.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it will be “many weeks” before the two countries can loosen restrictions that are keeping the frontier closed to all but goods and a small number of essential workers.

That’s to keep the virus that causes COVID-19 from crossing back and forth with travellers.

An agreement between Canada and the United States to limit border crossings is due to expire in days.

President Donald Trump says he’s eager to start returning to normal life, even as his country grapples with the world’s biggest outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

Trump signalled Wednesday that he’s prepared to support easing travel restrictions along the Canada-U.S. border sooner rather than later.

Canada is “doing well” in its efforts to control the spread of the virus, Trump said during his daily media briefing at the White House.

In the same breath, however, the U.S. president — who makes no secret of his urgent desire to see the American economy come roaring back to life — seemed to equate Canada’s success with efforts in the U.S., a comparison sure to raise eyebrows north of the border.