The Canadian government said on July 14 that even though airports in Canada had stopped randomly testing arriving passengers for COVID-19 in June, air travelers could once more be chosen for testing upon entering the country.
No matter their level of immunization, all travelers should get ready for the realities of the COVID-19 random arrival testing that will begin the next week.
Testing will now take place away from the actual airports, though.
On July 19, random testing will resume for fully immunised travellers arriving at four airports: Calgary International Airport (YUL), Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL), Vancouver International Airport (YVR), and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) (YYC).
In-person testing will take place at certain testing provider sites, including pharmacies, or individuals can schedule online appointments to perform self-proctored examinations.
At land border entrance locations, random testing will also continue.
According to the Canadian government, passengers who have been chosen to undergo a random test will be contacted via email within 15 minutes after finishing their customs declaration.
Information on how to arrange their test should be included in the email.
Here is further information on what to anticipate from the obligatory arrival testing.
This testing is required for everyone chosen, despite being random.
According to a news release published by Canadian authorities on July 14, "If your arrival test result is positive, you must go into isolation and fulfill the federal mandate to isolate for 10 days from the date of the test result."
"Even if the isolation requirement is shorter in your province or territory, your 10-day seclusion is required."
Extra qualifications for entrance
Although Canada no longer requires vaccinations for incoming and outgoing tourists, all arriving foreign visitors must currently provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to enter Canada.
Travelers who are just partially or never vaccinated are still not allowed to enter Canada.
If at least 14 days have passed after the final dosage of an authorized two-dose or single-dose vaccine, visitors to Canada are deemed completely protected (including those from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson).
Children under the age of 5 are not subject to entry restrictions and are exempt from vaccination and testing requirements if accompanied by a fully immunized adult traveler.
If you have any immediate plans to travel to Canada from another country, you must continue to update your immunization record and other necessary travel documents to the ArriveCan app within 72 hours of departure.
All travelers on trains or aeroplanes to Canada must continue to hide their faces.
In conclusion
All flying travelers visiting Canada, including Americans, should be ready for mandatory random arrival testing and a potential quarantine in the event of a positive result.
To give an idea of the scope of this, from Nov. 28, 2021, to Feb. 27, 2022, Canada conducted 194,730 tests on people arriving by plane.
The Public Health Agency of Canada reports that 6.06 percent of those were positive.
Over 11,000 persons in a three-month period ended up having to deal with a possible unexpected positive COVID test in Canada.
Review the most recent entry criteria before departing since the precise Canadian entry regulations are still subject to change.
Additionally, to ensure a pleasant appointment, be sure to have any necessary papers prepared well in advance of your visit.
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