FlyerTalk Forums - Random arrival testing

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So supposedly email saying you’ve been selected within 15 minutes. Then how long do you have to actually take the test? And until you do you’re free to run around and do what you want? If it’s by end of next day as it is for current unvaccinated and a PCR test it would be at least 3 or 4 days until results? By that time folks will have already spread and/or possibly left Canada??

The thing is Air Canada asks whether you’re currently under a mandatory quarantine order, so you’d have to answer “no” to that. It also asks whether you’ve had COVID in the past 10 days. I’m assuming WestJet is the same.

We both had PCR tests and I had my fingers crossed we’d still have positive results, which we did. I know weird but since we had COVID figure may as well try and get this 180 free exemption pass from random testing. So looks like we’ll be all good. Unless of course they change the rules again.

Damn, I guess I should peel off the green stickers I was saving to show to the sticker checkers on the way out

That was such a good system :D
They never noticed the pink ones, just the old green ones for some reason......

So....arrive at YYZ from LAS on July 28 and am then flying to MNL on early July 30th. If I test on the 29th and don't get my results until the 30th, what do I do ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by flying chef (Post 34441616)

So....arrive at YYZ from LAS on July 28 and am then flying to MNL on early July 30th. If I test on the 29th and don't get my results until the 30th, what do I do ?

You don't need to isolate after taking a test.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyerGoldII (Post 34434797)

Is the proof of infection uploaded onto the Arrive Can app?

No. AFAIK there is no clear procedure to provide the proof of recovery. In fact, the system seemed to completely ignore that exemption, and did not provide any avenue to provide the proof. So you’re stuck with trying to contact the PHAC if you’re selected, to explain that you’re exempt. And it’s almost impossible to get in touch with them and talk to a real person.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sydneyracquelle (Post 34437105)

You may always exit Canada. They are trying to protect any virus from spreading within Canada. They don’t care if you exit Canada.

Well, not quite.

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/tr...tion#isolation

Isolating after a positive test result on arrival or Day-8 If you receive a positive arrival or Day-8 COVID-19 molecular test result from a test required by the Government of Canada, you must report to the Public Health Agency of Canada within 24 hours by calling 1-833-641-0343 and isolate immediately. This applies to any federal government-required test that you were selected to complete, including a mandatory random test.

Your isolation period ends after the 10th day from the day on which you took the test.

Federal rules for quarantine and isolation after entering Canada are different from the provincial or territorial rules. In this case, you must follow the stricter rules.

For example, if you must isolate after testing positive on your arrival molecular COVID-19 test that was provided to you at the border, you must stay in mandatory isolation for 10 days, even if your province only requires 5 days of isolation.

If you want to leave Canada, you cannot board a plane to do so.

If you leave Canada during your isolation period

You’ll need permission from a Quarantine Officer to leave Canada during your isolation period.

Send a request to leave Canada

You won't be able to take public transportation. You must depart using private transportation only, such as your private vehicle. You won't be able to board a flight to depart Canada. You must also comply with all regulations for the country of destination.

You must:

wear a respirator or mask
practice physical distancing at all times, where possible
avoid contact with others while in transit
- remain in the vehicle
- do not stay at a hotel on the way to your new destination
- if you need gas, pay at the pump
- if you need food, use a drive through
- if you need to use a rest area, put on your mask and be mindful of physical distancing and good hygiene practices
- If you're in a federal designated quarantine facility, you must get authorization from a quarantine officer to leave.

If you test positive, ignore the rules, and arrive at the airport to depart the country, who is going to stop you from boarding the airplane? Would the person at the check-in have it on their system that you should currently be isolating?

Since restart of the random tests you'll get an e-mail if you're selected if I understand it correctly. What if you never get that mail because it's stuck / deleted by your spam-filter? Is there a known sender's address for these mails? Will they fall back to calling you and will you have a chance to explain or is it just a robocall?

Glad if someone who was unfortunate enough of being selected since July 19, 2022 could report how the procedure unfolds.

Can some explain how this works for connections with a stopover? I’m arriving late one evening in YYZ and departing early the following morning (all on same PNR, but 2 different carriers). What happens if I get selected and test positive in the evening? Can I take my flight in the morning?

I entered the country today, around an hour ago (after around a 30 minute wait at YUL, no Nexus in the domestic connections area, and massive lines).

No email so I’m assuming I’m good.

I’m really not sure how they plan to operationalize this for those with connections to distant parts of the country - unless the expectation is that they pick up virtual test kits before leaving the initial airport of entry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by respectable_man (Post 34443243)

Results take a couple of days, so you will be fine.

I have found this:

https://www.routesonline.com/news/29...ng-passengers/

Contradictory to a press release cited in posts #31 and #41, it says:

Passengers flying to Canada must download the ArriveCAN app 72 hours before departure. Once a passenger clears customs, he or she will get a message sent to the app within 15 minutes letting them know they have been randomly selected for testing. The app will help passengers find a testing site and book an appointment

IMHO this sounds much more serious than the old testing-regime they had before the tests were paused. You can hardly pretend you didn't get the notification in the ArriveCAN app when the app was necessary to make it into Canada at all. It worked that far, and then, all of a sudden, the app has allegedly failed once you've been selected for the test? No one will believe that. It seems they've learnt their lesson.

That's different from what the official site says (which is also different from what the initial news reports said):

Quote:

On entry to Canada, check your email to see if you must complete an arrival test. An email will be sent to the same email address you used for ArriveCAN.

You’ll receive an email within 15 minutes of completing your customs declaration and receiving your kiosk receipt. This email will have important information about where and when to get tested.

You’ll receive an email from [email protected] or [email protected]. Follow the instructions in the email.

You can complete your test in-person or pick up a self-swab kit at select test provider locations, select pharmacies, or via a virtual appointment for a self-swab test.

You can take advantage of near-airport locations, where available, for the quickest and easiest way to complete your arrival test.

…

To complete your arrival test you must:

Register with the approved test provider for the province of your point of entry. Use the same email address you used for ArriveCAN.
Schedule your test with the test provider
Complete the test by end of day the next calendar day after arriving into Canada

For example, if you arrived to Canada at 9:00 a.m. on July 1, you should complete your arrival test by 11:59 p.m. on July 2.

You must keep your ArriveCAN e-receipt number until your test is complete. If you arrived by air, you should also keep the email notification.

If you haven’t completed your test on time, you’ll be contacted by phone from 1-888-336-7735. It’s important that you answer this call.

Note: they say that most travelers should receive their results within 4 days.