Ottawa initially suspended random testing of fully vaccinated travelers last month after airport officials urged the government to drop the program, saying it was causing long delays at airports, although testing remained in place for those deemed not fully vaccinated . However, fully vaccinated travelers will still be subject to mandatory testing, although the government is moving testing away from airports to nearby off-site locations such as pharmacies. Travelers can also book a virtual self-examination appointment. Fully vaccinated travelers arriving in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Montreal could be subject to random checks starting Tuesday. To qualify as a fully vaccinated traveler, a person must have received two doses of a recognized vaccine (such as Pfizer, Moderna, or Astra-Zeneca) or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The government maintains that random testing of plane travelers is necessary to help detect new variants of COVID-19. “As demand for travel increases around the world, today’s announcement marks an important step in our progress in streamlining testing processes outside our airports while preventing the further spread of COVID-19,” said Transport Minister Omar Alghabra in Press release. Those selected for random testing must complete the test within a day of their arrival, the government says.
