Arrival testing mandated again
 

See https://www.canada.ca/en/public-heal...6JNzCiwIz-fxKY

Now arrival testing is mandatory again ... except this time you have to quarantine for 24-72 hours until you receive negative results, kind of like UK I guess.

It says arrivals from US by air or land will not have this restriction

Wonder if this 24-72 hour quarantine can be avoided by

1) Having a connecting flight in the US (unlikely)

or

2) Flying into a US airport and driving across to Canada

I see the latter being an option, since there is a lack of arrival testing infrastructure at the land border AFAIK. The only way I see this not working is if they put something in there about being anywhere other then the US during the last 14 days.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

I'm fairly sure that option 2 is not an option, as unless I'm reading things incorrectly, you still need a test to enter canada: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/tr...try-vaccinated

If you're entering the US by land and will be there for 72 hours or less (think you also need to be PR or a Canadian Citizen) then you do not currently need a negative test on your return to Canada. Not sure if they have given information as to wether that exemption is going to be reversed, which would be seriously annoying as it only started on 30th November

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

As this mandate is caused by the new variant, Omicron, then I doubt that you can wriggle out of taking it.

We know so little about this variant, except that it seems to be more efficiently transmitted, why would you want to avoid passing on a potentially more harmful variant to family and friends, let alone strangers?

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

I wish "they" would publish requirements in a single place on a nice, clear, easy to understand table!

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Who is they?

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Who indeed.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Yeah, I could get a rapid PCR test on arrival at DTW or BUF from a third country and use that to re-enter Canada by land. I'm thinking this will avoid the post-arrival test in Canada and subsequent 1-3 day quarantine period. I don't see how this wouldn't work unless the US changes their entry requirements for fully vaccinated Canadian citizens. And the site doesn't say anything about excluding people who've travelled to other countries other then just USA.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

1. Its already here. I'm sure before SA declared they found a variant, dozens of people have passed through Canada carrying it. It will be exactly like delta, we will enact useless border measures and the variant will get in and become dominant anyway.
2. Its no more deadly then the existing variants, so not sure why it needs special treatment
3. I'm vaccinated

I have no issue taking an arrival test, but I don't believe people should have to quarantine until results are received

1. YOu already have a negative pre-departure test from the country you are coming from
2. The government could use rapid PCR kits at the airport enabling you to get results before you even leave the airport. The most efficient would be to have the testing right after you get off the plane before going through immigration, then by the time you go through immigration and get your luggage you have the results. But no, they will continue to use a slower, lab-based PCR that makes you wait in quarantine for 2-3 days for no reason. Then god forbid the results come back inconclusive and you have to go get tested again, in a worst case scenario you could be in quarantine for 6-7 days. Its just not very efficient, and is a lot more inconvenient then the previous measures.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Of course it is here .............. cases in BC, Alberta, Ontario & Quebec, so far.

The mandate for quarantine is an attempt to prevent any more infected people entering, and thus reducing the risk of Canadians catching it.

Being fully vaccinated seems to be no protection to this thing, at the moment. That is why the quarantine regulation has been brought in.

Why do you always want to avoid obeying mandates and rules??????????????

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

I believe the US are making it mandatory to have a PCR result within 24 hours to arrive now.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Yup:

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1980318275813

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Being fully vaccinated was never a protection against getting, and spreading, COVID. It was and is only protection against severe illness, hospitalisation, and death. This is the same with the omicron variant. So far, there are no reported cases with severe illness or death in vaccinated people from the Omicron variant. https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/2021...ations-doctors

Because I don't like being told what to do. And the mandates were never effective at reducing the spread/introduction of covid. As I said, omicron is already here. Mandates are too little, too late, and just a big inconvenience. They are also going to be pretty ineffective if you can get around it by routing via the US, just like with hotel quarantine.

My OP question was about routing around this mandate via the US. If you don't have any input regarding that lets keep the covid debate to the covid thread.

I'll be following this as well. I have to pop over in Jan for my nexus interview. In any case a $40 antigen test would get you across the border to the US side, as long as the Canadians still don't require a test at the land border.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Personally I'd say they should let vaccinated Canadians to come and go as they please. Sadly politics goes the other way. Especially provincial politics seems to persuade Ottawa constantly to enact tougher border rules.

Could I now book a flight from Europe, enter a Canadian airport and have a connecting flight on the same day? Or is this clearly off now?

Is the test upon arrival in Canada for free? or another charge? and if so how high?

The problem is that politicians and lawmakers have discovered that the latest craze is testing vaccinated travellers and also quarantine is back again. In some places in Europe they are starting to require tests even for vaccinated customers visiting a restaurant.

The only thing that's for certain is that this mandatory hotel quarantine is not there anymore, but who knows. Politicians can be very resourceful.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

+1


That's the problem. No one knows.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ott...gZa0xi_gFnKl_A

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

They are saying it’ll be 24 hours but I thought it was still an antigen test? Haven’t seen reference to it changing to PCR but please correct me If this is incorrect.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

I've seen all these reports about endless queues while arriving in Canada at Pearson airport. These queues are due to the added bureaucracy like checking whatever one uploads on the Arrive Canada app. I think these queues pose an extra risk of catching the virus, and it would even be worse, if there was additional testing and additional queues after the passport checks. These "Covid 19 document checking bottleneck queues" are the real danger while traveling.

I think it's safer to let vaccinated Canadians travel, without bureaucracy, or any testing, just the passport and the QR code as proof of vaccination, and that's it.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

I passed through Pearson yesterday. I didn’t find it any more bureaucratic than normal. I had a mask on. I kept my distance. Checking my ArriveCAN app receipt took less than a second.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Maybe those queues are only at the weekend. I also recall passengers having to wait on the plane, waiting to deplane for more than one hour. I'd say it's wise to book flights for during the week.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Ditto for me coming through pearson in July and last month.

I didn't find the process bureaucratic at all. With this new mandatory 1-3 day quarantine that may change things. Though, I guess this is no different to the policy the UK has had in place for many months.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-heal...f-concern.html
Am I missing something? As far as I could see it only impacts anyone who has been in these countries in the preceding 14 days... if you haven't it doesn't affect you.,,or is there another link somewhere?

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

I am afraid, you are missing something. The thread here concerns the announced planned changes to the already existing travel bans from various countries in southern Africa.

The planned changes would include testing for Covid 19 upon arrival, and subsequent home isolation ( possibly 1 to 2 days ? ) until a negative test result is received, and that would include from every country except the US not just a dedicated list of countries from southern Africa.

To date there is no real plan how this is going to be implemented. To date there is also no understanding how this will play in practical life? Is one able to fly from Europe transit in the US to got to Canada and avoid this? Is also one able to fly into Canada, and change flights for any domestic flight within Canada on the same day? And then there is the question of space and capacity at various Canadian airports for testing.

So far the testing upon arrival at Canadian airports was more something at random ( as far as I know) or maybe from certain countries, not from every country.

Personally I think this added regulation has no benefit, - the Omicron variant is already within Canada and spreading.

Canada would also be wise to consider mandatory vaccination for everyone as well as the 3rd booster shot, except medical reasons, if no. Various countries in Europe have been offering the booster shot to all age cohorts way sooner, like one month ago.

A vaccination rate of 97% and above is way more effective than new travel rules and travel restrictions. ( I am aware that your opinion might differ )

The current knowledge is that Moderna and Pfizer/Biontech might need adjustment, but both are still protecting against all variants, including Omicron, as it's also about your T cells.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

The government announced on Tuesday that arrival testing would be mandatory again. Today, Sunday, there is still no start date for this arrival testing. What a farce, so much for "We are taking quick action at our borders to mitigate travel related importations of the Omicron variant,". What they should have done instead is mandated that pre-departure tests are only valid of taken within 48 hours or departure (instead of current 72 hours).

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

That would surely be much less disruptive then these measures that have been announced, and not a huge inconvenience as in every other country besides Canada it is fairly easy to get a rapid molecular (PCR/NAAT/LAMP) test with a quick turnaround.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Assuming the travel Antigen test from shoppers drug mart is still acceptable for pre-departure for UK? I can’t remember the previous requirements, and as usual different terms are being used. Some pages say antigen, some say lateral flow, some say antigen lateral flow, some say lateral flow antigen.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Lateral flow = UK term for antigen test. You're good to go with the shoppers test.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

ok great thanks, that’s what I was hoping was still the case!

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

This link should give us a bit of an idea:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/arr...iner-1.6272919

The main facts are:

- the testing upon arrival is for free
- connecting flights are permitted
- home isolation for a couple of days

Quarantine only from certain counties.

The question is only how long this is the case, - it's fairly easy to put the UK up on that list of countries, or Ireland or any other EU country, for that matter.
It certainly won't stop the spread of Omicron.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

The airports have a good point about take home swab kits… I was on one of the first flights earlier this year when they first tested at the airport on arrival, it was an absolute disaster. People crammed in a small space, and those who hadn’t booked ahead were getting theirs completed before those who had done what they were told by registering before arriving.

it’s beginning to sound like omicron is more infectious so cramming people in these spaces is for certain no longer viable, if they’re serious about these travel restrictions they need to allow take home swab kits.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Omicron will dominate in the UK and also in Canada, as well as every other country, testing and travel restrictions or not. I know that's a bit hard to get into the minds of people and even worse getting into the minds of politicians who want to be re-elected ( Ford in Ontario ).

The only solid answer against omicron is vaccination, masks and hand washing as often as possible. I'd rather they should make 3 shots a requirement to travel as you please, than 2 shots and endless testing, packed queues at airports and senseless forms and damage to the economy. Also high infection rates don't mean much, if one is vaccinated and the symptoms are mild.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Does anyone know if there are any exemptions to on-arrival testing e.g. having had covid in past 90 days?

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

I prefer to take the test at the airport, especially if required to isolate, as that should mean the swab reaches the lab earlier, which means I get my negative result earlier and I am out of this ridiculous self isolation.

I don't see any more of a risk of contracting covid in the airport then I do on the plane which is not distanced.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

If Fauci is correct and Omocron is not worse than Delta than maybe this kind of testing procedure won't be required and this may be earlier than we can expect?

Regarding an airplane, I'd suggest you're way more secure, they way air is filtered on a plane, plus the air is very dry.

What would concern me more, is how often airport staff is actually tested? They could potentially infect us travellers as well.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

You are dreaming when it comes to the Canadian government. Of course they will put in more useless measures, it's just what they do. And, we voted these clowns in again anyway, what else did we expect?

I'm not really concerned about being infected. If I was, i'd probably be less willing to travel abroad.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

The government website has been update, it's not mandatory for all arrivals yet, will be random selection for now, aiming for 100% in the coming weeks

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/tr...ng-into-canada

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

I'm going to refrain from travelling this holiday season due to these restrictions but I am hoping they are lifted by Jan. 31, 2022 as it says in the news release...at least the requirement to self-isolate. I'd like to go away in Feb and would rather not self isolate on my return.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

I've noted that government regulations are actually way worse than catching the virus. These clowns are going mad over omicron is totally disproportionate, especially considering that this virus will dominate everywhere in the world, no matter what restrictions they bring in.

However, what seems to be off ( for now at least ) is the mandatory hotel quarantine and the price to pay for that one.

As far as I am aware, one can still enter Canada, at say Montreal, and fly onwards to Winnipeg on the same day, provided you have an address you can stay for the next 14 days to potentially home isolate / quarantine in.

In the worst case scenario, they will introduce hotel quarantine from Jan 31st 2022 and onwards. Ford is capable of that at any stage, - it's not his decision though, but I am certain, he'd be one of the first to go to Ottawa to push for some federal mandate for that one. Remember "Ford is seeing too many airplanes at Pearson".

Incidentally the 14 day quarantine was also a requirement prior to, like if the tests were positive prior to departure, irrespective of vaccination status or not. The Arrive Can App would be a "quarantine exemption to be granted for the negative tested and vaccinated traveller".

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

I highly doubt they will re-introduce hotel quarantine for fully vaccinated travelers traveling from places other then Africa.

It will be scrapped by 1/31 as the bad press is already coming out from people stuck in there.

Go to this lady's FB profile it will detail what is happening in these horrible DQF. https://www.facebook.com/tgaura

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

With all that idiocy about quarantine or home isolation the Canadian government should rather focus on defining "fully vaccinated" as 3 times vaccinated for those whose 2nd vaccination is 3 or 4 months past, - it's the only answer to omicron, and that irrespective if you're travelling, where you're from, which colour of skin, or visiting a restaurant or how many are in that restaurant.

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Looks like we're expecting another set of ridiculous travel restrictions.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/can...ions-1.6285823

The main question is are we going to go back to that overpriced mandatory hotel quarantine? Or the 14 day home isolation? Regardless of vaccine status or not, - makes one wonder, why one gotten vaccinated in the first place.....

Re: Arrival testing mandated again
 

Yep. The only reason I got vaccinated was to travel so I will feel pretty cheated if quarantine is back.

I've always had doubts about the vaccine and the fact that it is blatantly not working against this variant and numbers are getting to be just as bad as they were pre-vaccine is proving my suspicions correct.

Here we go to almost two full years of uncertainty regarding international travel. Wonder if this will ever end or if the dream of, say, backpacking Europe, or going on a multi-country trip or cruise will just be a part of history, and people will not travel as much anymore unless to see family or other non-discretionary/ "important" reasons.

Would be a shame.