This would make me avoid going to Canada, as the press release leaves out lots of important details:
–are you brought to these off-site testing locations, or are you on your own to find them?
–are you charged for these tests?
–Do you wait for your results, and then allowed to go on your way if you test negative? Again, who handles the transportation?
Doing this random testing at the airport made too much sense, I guess, so let’s make it a mess by making you enter a city you may have little familiarity with…
SO SO SO SO glad our trip to Canada last month was during the window when random testing was suspended.
Less important that they test IMO. What is important is what do they do with you if you do test positive? Having to stay in a Covid hotel at cost or having to remain where you land and just self quarantine is a big difference.
Now that we are traveling again. I’d be very reluctant to go to any country that is going to lock me down if I’m sick. But I’m totally happy to self quarantine for whatever amount they chose. Guess I’d just like to understand what purpose they think this serves? Why not just bring back testing everyone before flying? That way at least, people would not make others sick on the flights.
After reading every article I could find on Canada’s new testing, I believe @BunsenBurner is correct. The fact that testing is done on Canadian soil means we won’t get stuck overseas. If selected, and testing positive, I hope I can proceed to my car and drive home for my quarantine. It sounds like it could even be a PCR test and results might not be available for a few days.
Yes, that’s great for you as a resident. But you would likely have affected others on the plane/airport etc.
I think it’s useless. If someone comes home and feels sick they’ll likely take a test. Either do it before someone travels ( to prevent others getting sick) or don’t bother at all.
Canada news release about random covid testiing from 4 days ago:
If you are selected you will receive an email within 15 min after going through customs.
They have preselected pharmacies where you’ll need to make an appointment (or I think a telehealth visit is also okay). Looks like you are on your own to get there and get the test.
All vaccinated travellers who are randomly selected for the border testing surveillance program must complete arrival mandatory testing requirements.
If your arrival test result is positive, you must go into isolation and follow the federal requirement to isolate for 10 days from the date of the test result. Your 10-day isolation is required, even if the isolation requirement is shorter in your province or territory.
Interesting but what if you just say your e-mail didn’t work? Or went to spam?
Worse thing is, you are expected to do something that isn’t even in the airport. For what reason? So they can collect data? Why? I’d bet most people ignore the email.
Good question but I’m going to take a stab (big guess!) at this.
The airlines want nothing to do with enforcing any of these regulations. To cover it they pick people out randomly as required but then wipe their hands of the whole mess. It goes back to government to enforce it. So all testing is now off site automatically. They send you an email AFTER the entire process of entering the country. All follow up is dependent on passengers willingness to comply and officials outside the airline industry.
I think we should just go back to testing prior to air/ship/train travel, including domestically. It’s not that big of a deal to test and it can certainly cut down on large number outbreaks. When we went toHawaii (twice) we tested and it added a layer of security knowing everyone else on the flight did as well.
We never had comprehensive pre-travel domestic testing (only flights to Hawaii, which is less than 1% of domestic air travel, and even then only for a limited period of time when visits were down substantially). It was viewed as too “big of a deal” to implement at the height of the pandemic. It’s inconceivable today.
I called ArriveCan, the Canadian Gov’t’s app for entry. They informed me that it is a PCR test, so results aren’t available for 3 days, allowing you to proceed with your travel. So everyone has to make sure to get out of Canada quickly. My travel agent says cruises are different. She has had 6 different groups test positive upon return with rapid tests. One group couldn’t get off the ship and had to return to Anchorage. Another was escorted to a quarantine hotel. Both of these were within the past 30 days.
Bummer, we are going to a wedding reception in Montreal in 2 weeks. I made an appt to get my second booster this week. H had Covid last month so he is unlikely to test positive again. I will test myself for a few days before travel.
I think if he just had covid, he can test positive for up to 90 days after. I would think about a letter from his doctor saying that.
I’m not sure how much these things matter. Because I can’t figure out what the objective is for Canada. Is it to determine how many people are traveling with covid? I’m pretty confused because it’s not to keep people from flying. Is it?
Is the testing for Canada only for airports/cruises? Just clarifying as we’re driving across in August. I’m not overly concerned about testing if it happens at the driving borders, as we’ve all had covid in the last three weeks (thank you, daughter, for bringing it back from your ballet intensive), but would like to prep the family if it’s a possibility.
And for those of you that have used ArriveCan, you upload passport info as well as covid vax info? (I’ve downloaded the app but haven’t made an account yet.) We’re waiting on our daughter’s passport (11 weeks and counting) but found out that <16 y/o only need proof of citizenship to enter. I’m still annoyed that her passport isn’t back (her brother’s came back weeks ago) but breathing easier knowing if it doesn’t arrive it won’t derail our trip.
YES–you upload both vaccination proof and passport into ArriveCAN. They don’t ask for the ArriveCAN QR code, but see all the info you uploaded into the app when they scan your passport.
That was our experience crossing the border by bus last month.
Quirky thing—at US border control, only detainees can use the restrooms (if you have to pee bad enough, get yourself arrested??), at Canadian border control, they have huge signs directing you to public restrooms. American brusqueness vs. Canada nice maybe???
My travel agent says cruises are different. She has had 6 different groups test positive upon return with rapid tests. One group couldn’t get off the ship and had to return to Anchorage. Another was escorted to a quarantine hotel. Both of these were within the past 30 days.