Canada officials say vaxx req for visitors, random testing to end by 30 Sept.2022
#2161
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,967
Never saw you mentioning that you flew to YVR But wow...one way to handle it. Quite a mess indeed.
Not the best news either...
Just read in the German counterpart of FT that according to LifeLabs it would be possible to opt out of this farce and have a 200$ rapid test done off-site the airport, which would free you from quarantine. Can anyone confirm that? How would this work in practice if you're selected for a random test? Just show the appointment and tell them good bye? Sounds too easy, imho.
Not the best news either...
Just read in the German counterpart of FT that according to LifeLabs it would be possible to opt out of this farce and have a 200$ rapid test done off-site the airport, which would free you from quarantine. Can anyone confirm that? How would this work in practice if you're selected for a random test? Just show the appointment and tell them good bye? Sounds too easy, imho.
So you are correct, over on vielflegertreff there is a reply from LifeLabs that indeed the rush test will release one from quarantine. Thanks for the heads up, although I'm curious to see replies here.
Also seeing posts of people being told that the 'norm' is now 6-8 days to be expected.
#2162
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SEA, YVR
Programs: Alaska MVPG, Flying Blue Gold, BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 561
I arrived to YVR from London UK on the 9th. I was told I was randomly selected for testing after they asked where I'd been and what I had been doing (London, holidays, etc.), so it doesn't look like they're testing every foreigner. It was actually pretty quick, I was one of the first people off the plane and had pre-registered with LifeLabs so there were no lines to get the test requisition form printed or to do the actual test. Plane landed at 7:20 pm, and I was out of the airport at 7:45 pm. Still no results though! The person testing said it would be 1-3 days but we'll see...will update when I finally receive the results.
#2163
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: YUL
Posts: 990
I suggested using the Switch PCR LAMP test kit as a release method over on the Air Canada forum and was told I was a lunatic. But an arriving passenger, at YUL, was told by Dynacare, after 5 days, that she should pay for a private test if she could not wait any longer.
My plan is to give Dynacare 48 hours to get the results to us, if not we use the Switch kits, to release us. I am sure it would stand up in court.
Though I do not return until March, maybe this dumpster fire will improve by then. But the Switch kits are waiting for me at home, just in case.
I am happy to test, I am happy to show a negative test, I am not happy to be a guinea pig in the game.
My plan is to give Dynacare 48 hours to get the results to us, if not we use the Switch kits, to release us. I am sure it would stand up in court.
Though I do not return until March, maybe this dumpster fire will improve by then. But the Switch kits are waiting for me at home, just in case.
I am happy to test, I am happy to show a negative test, I am not happy to be a guinea pig in the game.
Last edited by Bogwoppit; Jan 12, 2022 at 5:12 am
#2164
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,286
Data privacy - they do not want to send test results over unencrypted email. Dynacare in YUL does the same: They send you an email telling you that your results are now available if you log in to their portal.
#2165
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,967
Never saw you mentioning that you flew to YVR But wow...one way to handle it. Quite a mess indeed.
Not the best news either...
Just read in the German counterpart of FT that according to LifeLabs it would be possible to opt out of this farce and have a 200$ rapid test done off-site the airport, which would free you from quarantine. Can anyone confirm that? How would this work in practice if you're selected for a random test? Just show the appointment and tell them good bye? Sounds too easy, imho.
Not the best news either...
Just read in the German counterpart of FT that according to LifeLabs it would be possible to opt out of this farce and have a 200$ rapid test done off-site the airport, which would free you from quarantine. Can anyone confirm that? How would this work in practice if you're selected for a random test? Just show the appointment and tell them good bye? Sounds too easy, imho.
BUT we don't know if that will release you. feel free I guess to pay the $200 and let us know?
BUT also most LifeLabs locations have closed down for at least two weeks now in BC apparently (along with imaging centres) So no idea what that will mean for their testing program ie even longer waits now? I cannot fathom a place where the vast majority of places to perform medical tests, scans, xrays, etc are shut down for two whole weeks, so imagine that they may divert staff/resources to cover critical things?
#2166
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 13
$150 + $50 is the rush fee for a NAAT and only at the one location by YVR apparently.
BUT we don't know if that will release you. feel free I guess to pay the $200 and let us know?
BUT also most LifeLabs locations have closed down for at least two weeks now in BC apparently (along with imaging centres) So no idea what that will mean for their testing program ie even longer waits now? I cannot fathom a place where the vast majority of places to perform medical tests, scans, xrays, etc are shut down for two whole weeks, so imagine that they may divert staff/resources to cover critical things?
BUT we don't know if that will release you. feel free I guess to pay the $200 and let us know?
BUT also most LifeLabs locations have closed down for at least two weeks now in BC apparently (along with imaging centres) So no idea what that will mean for their testing program ie even longer waits now? I cannot fathom a place where the vast majority of places to perform medical tests, scans, xrays, etc are shut down for two whole weeks, so imagine that they may divert staff/resources to cover critical things?
Sounds very promising what you state above...what a sh*tshow, really. Let's see...
#2167
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,273
I wonder how many people are actually waiting, dilligently isolating, on their results, since really there is no follow up or enforcement of any kind.
After all, even if you actually have covid, you are free to roam the streets after 5 days.
After all, even if you actually have covid, you are free to roam the streets after 5 days.
#2168
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 4,171
In terms of just isolating at home until negative results, I would guess under 33%.
#2169
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: ZRH
Programs: AC SE 100K
Posts: 923
Reading down the thread a bit - I also do see the German's point of view. We look 100% disorganized and they can see through and wonder what this is all about. Also - if results were like clockwork - overnight - I would basically wait for sure - but an uncertain wait time - forget it. We did arrival tests in UK (which we paid for) and like clockwork - they were received by noon from a 9pm test.
Who is getting rich at Switch and seriously Life Labs - you owe British Columbia a new hospital on your $$$$ based on the crazy unheard of revenues you have made in the past 18 months.
#2170
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Calgary, AB
Programs: AC SE100k, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 428
I suggested using the Switch PCR LAMP test kit as a release method over on the Air Canada forum and was told I was a lunatic. But an arriving passenger, at YUL, was told by Dynacare, after 5 days, that she should pay for a private test if she could not wait any longer.
My plan is to give Dynacare 48 hours to get the results to us, if not we use the Switch kits, to release us. I am sure it would stand up in court.
Though I do not return until March, maybe this dumpster fire will improve by then. But the Switch kits are waiting for me at home, just in case.
I am happy to test, I am happy to show a negative test, I am not happy to be a guinea pig in the game.
My plan is to give Dynacare 48 hours to get the results to us, if not we use the Switch kits, to release us. I am sure it would stand up in court.
Though I do not return until March, maybe this dumpster fire will improve by then. But the Switch kits are waiting for me at home, just in case.
I am happy to test, I am happy to show a negative test, I am not happy to be a guinea pig in the game.
#2171
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
Dr. Chagla is an Infectious Diseases Physician at St. Joe's Hamilton / Associate Professor at McMaster University.
See his tweet.
Some interesting comments follow in his thread including these
.
See his tweet.
Some interesting comments follow in his thread including these
#2172
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: YUL
Posts: 990
I am past caring at this point. I will do the test kit if airport results do not come back in 48 hours. I will have a negative PCR test result on my phone if anyone asks for it.
This has become nothing more than window dressing.
#2173
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,896
This winter, looks like Canadians ready to drive in their own cars back from Buffalo/Detroit/Seattle/Bellingham should consider similar extreme measures to secure in-time PCR tests by buying a round trip ticket to airports with onsite labs such as LAX.
#2174
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
Some very interesting quotes from doctors... and the Feds.
CBC News Posted: Jan 13, 2022
Ottawa is funding COVID-19 PCR tests for hundreds of thousands of travellers. Is it worth it?
Although Omicron has spread across Canada, the government continues to do mass arrival testing of travellers
Also note the section "Get rid of all PCR tests for travellers?"
QUOTES:
"What's really clear is that COVID is everywhere and that it's not travel that's the major source of spread," said Dr. David Carr, an emergency medicine professor in the Division of Emergency Medicine at the University of Toronto.
"Making people repeat their PCR [test] upon arrival is deflecting resources away from where they could be better spent."
......
"Carr suggested that instead of demanding international travellers take two PCR tests, one 72 hours before arrival and one upon arrival, a more efficient use of resources might be to mandate travellers take a rapid antigen test right before boarding their flight.
Although PCR tests can be more accurate, antigen tests are much cheaper, don't have to be sent to a lab and can provide results within minutes. Travellers sometimes must wait days for PCR test results.
"If we're trying to make flying safer, I would rather fly in a plane of people who had a rapid test within the last 12 or 24 hours than a PCR in the last 72," said Carr."
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tra...ment-1.6311868
CBC News Posted: Jan 13, 2022
Ottawa is funding COVID-19 PCR tests for hundreds of thousands of travellers. Is it worth it?
Although Omicron has spread across Canada, the government continues to do mass arrival testing of travellers
Also note the section "Get rid of all PCR tests for travellers?"
QUOTES:
"What's really clear is that COVID is everywhere and that it's not travel that's the major source of spread," said Dr. David Carr, an emergency medicine professor in the Division of Emergency Medicine at the University of Toronto.
"Making people repeat their PCR [test] upon arrival is deflecting resources away from where they could be better spent."
......
"Carr suggested that instead of demanding international travellers take two PCR tests, one 72 hours before arrival and one upon arrival, a more efficient use of resources might be to mandate travellers take a rapid antigen test right before boarding their flight.
Although PCR tests can be more accurate, antigen tests are much cheaper, don't have to be sent to a lab and can provide results within minutes. Travellers sometimes must wait days for PCR test results.
"If we're trying to make flying safer, I would rather fly in a plane of people who had a rapid test within the last 12 or 24 hours than a PCR in the last 72," said Carr."
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tra...ment-1.6311868
#2175
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 4,171
Why does Canada insist on remaining an outlier here?
To enter the U.S., air passengers need to take only one test which can be a rapid antigen test no more than 1 day before travelling. Last week, England scrapped its COVID-19 pre-arrival test requirement for fully vaccinated travellers and changed the rules so they only have to take a rapid test after they arrive.
Last month, the Public Health Agency of Canada told CBC News that it doesn't accept rapid antigen tests for travellers because they are less sensitive than molecular tests.
Last month, the Public Health Agency of Canada told CBC News that it doesn't accept rapid antigen tests for travellers because they are less sensitive than molecular tests.