The federal government is reinstating mandatory random testing for air travelers coming to Canada, starting July 19. After a little more than a month without the measure, the Public Health Agency of Canada wrote in a statement Thursday that it will resume random testing of airplane travelers, this time outside airports, or by in-person appointments at specific testing sites. or using virtual dating and self-smearing tests. “As we have said all along, Canada’s border measures will remain flexible and adaptable, guided by science and prudence,” Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said in the statement. “We need to keep border testing measures in place because that’s how we monitor the introduction of the COVID-19 virus and new variants of concern.” “We will continue to adjust our border measures to balance the need to protect Canadians while supporting our economic recovery.” This is an emergency update. More to come.
title: “Air Travel Canada Reintroduces Random Covid 19 Testing " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-10” author: “Courtney Stanley”
The federal government is reintroducing mandatory random COVID-19 testing for air travelers coming to Canada, effective July 19. A little more than a month after the measure was suspended, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) announced Thursday that it will reintroduce random testing of fully vaccinated air travelers arriving in the country at four major Canadian airports: Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal. and Toronto. Testing will be conducted off-site, either at in-person appointments at “selected testing provider locations and pharmacies,” or using virtual appointments and self-smear tests. The ArriveCAN app will do the random selections and travelers will receive an email within 15 minutes of completing their customs declaration, with details of how their testing will be arranged and how long they will be quarantined for. The mandatory random check only applies to fully vaccinated travelers. Unless exempted, unvaccinated travelers should be tested on days one and eight of the mandatory 14-day quarantine. If a fully vaccinated traveler tests positive, 10 days of isolation is required, regardless of the province or territory in which the traveler resides. Mandatory random testing continues at land border points of entry, the government added. “We must keep the border testing measures in place because this is how we monitor the introduction of the COVID-19 virus and new variants of concern,” Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said in the statement. “We will continue to adjust our border measures to balance the need to protect Canadians while supporting our economic recovery.” According to Duclos’ office, PHAC will contact travelers to ensure they complete their tests and issue warnings — plus possible fines — to travelers who don’t comply. About four or five percent of travelers entering Canada will be selected for random testing, providing a sample of the overall population, the minister’s office told CTV News. There is no change at land borders, where mandatory random testing has never been paused. With files from CTV News’ Mike Le Couteur and Rachel Aiello
