Random arrival testing
#106


Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 145
For provinces that are allowing the random testing to be done virtually through home test kits, how do you do a PCR test to yourself? I was looking at the instructions for the Vancouver testing provider and they say to insert the swab 1 cm. That cant be PCR. The whole thing is a mess.
#107
Original Poster




Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,604
For provinces that are allowing the random testing to be done virtually through home test kits, how do you do a PCR test to yourself? I was looking at the instructions for the Vancouver testing provider and they say to insert the swab 1 cm. That cant be PCR. The whole thing is a mess.
#108


Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: AA EXP, UA Silver (Thanks Marriott!), Marriott Lifetime Titanium & Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 662
I drove from Toronto to Buffalo to void the required test. Once you leave the country it is no longer required as you can no longer spread any virus to Canadians and you cannot feasibly take the test anywhere. I got gas in USA (with a time stamped receipt) and re-entered on a new arrivecan. There are no random tests for land entries. From now on I will always put in my arrivecan that I am entering either by land or at YTZ to avoid being randomly selected. Ill just say my original flight to BUF/YTZ got cancelled and the airline flew me instead to YYZ.
We just arrived in Ontario a few hours ago via Peace Bridge (via Buffalo). Our daughter got randomly selected (yes, we used Peace Bridge as arrival port in the ArriveCAN app). Border agent handed us a kit and let us know she needs to test and mail in. We leave Wednesday and wont mail it until tomorrow (Tuesday). Oh well.
Last edited by Chewie; Aug 2, 2022 at 9:03 am
#109




Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM, DL MM
Posts: 4,427
Sadly, this isnt true.
We just arrived in Ontario a few hours ago via Peace Bridge (via Buffalo). Our daughter got randomly selected (yes, we used Peace Bridge as arrival port in the ArriveCAN app). Border agent handed us a kit and let us know she needs to test and mail in. We leave Wednesday and wont mail it until tomorrow (Tuesday). Oh well.
We just arrived in Ontario a few hours ago via Peace Bridge (via Buffalo). Our daughter got randomly selected (yes, we used Peace Bridge as arrival port in the ArriveCAN app). Border agent handed us a kit and let us know she needs to test and mail in. We leave Wednesday and wont mail it until tomorrow (Tuesday). Oh well.
#110
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold
Posts: 18,959
I got nailed for random testing after getting back on Tuesday (e-mail, no ArriveCAN notification, despite what someone posted upthread). Requested online test. Apparently Purolator tried to deliver on Thursday, of which I got no notification. Yesterday afternoon, I got an e-mail saying I had a package to pick up. Of course, the place is only open business hours Monday-Friday, and since I didn't have time to pick it up in the brief window before they closed on Friday afternoon, I wouldn't be able to collect the kit until Monday.
I got the phone call this morning checking up on me. When I selected that I hadn't done the test yet, it offered me several options for why:
Now, I was going to be a good citizen and do the test and hit option 1, but if I'm exempt, as is implied by option 4, I'm not going to bother.
I don't see anything on the mandatory testing page about an exemption for those who've recently had COVID and recovered. Anyone know anything about that? If there's no exemption, I'll just do the test so they don't hassle me.
I got the phone call this morning checking up on me. When I selected that I hadn't done the test yet, it offered me several options for why:
- Problems with the testing provider
- [Something else, I forget what]
- Decided not to do the test
- Have proof of positive molecular test in previous 10-180 days
Now, I was going to be a good citizen and do the test and hit option 1, but if I'm exempt, as is implied by option 4, I'm not going to bother.
I don't see anything on the mandatory testing page about an exemption for those who've recently had COVID and recovered. Anyone know anything about that? If there's no exemption, I'll just do the test so they don't hassle me.
#111

Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: NCL
Posts: 101
https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/tr...canada#arrival
You are exempt from arrival testing if you:
- provide a positive COVID-19 molecular test result, conducted at least 10 calendar days and no more than 180 calendar days before entering Canada. A positive antigen test is not accepted.
- for example, if your positive COVID-19 molecular test was taken on January 1, then January 11 would be the first day you could use it
- January 11 would be the earliest scheduled departure date of your flight to Canada, or the first day you could use it to enter Canada by land or water
- if your positive proof is accepted you won’t have to take an arrival test
#112
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold
Posts: 18,959
#113

Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: NCL
Posts: 101
And its nice to see theyre sticking to the whole the test needs to be completed by the end of the next day message. You got nailed on Tuesday which means you should have completed the test by Wednesday 23:59 but you didnt get the package alert until Friday but wont be able to pick it up until Monday. You do the test on Monday, mail it off and then possibly dont get the results for four days which takes you to Friday. By which time, if youre positive, youve potentially infected tens if not hundreds of people.
But hey, theyre protecting Canadian citizens, eh?
But hey, theyre protecting Canadian citizens, eh?
#115




Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 6,477
#116




Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 30
I also don't know if you are a citizen / resident of Canada. I ain't, and the last thing I want is to get in trouble leaving or re-entering the country for not obeying the random test. Althought I know you could get a hefty fine, I have not heard of someone who really got one. Anyone here has?
#117




Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM, DL MM
Posts: 4,427
I'm just curious if that strategy (of ignoring the tests) still works since the tests resumed on July, 19. Now you're notified by e-mail, that means they exactly know who's been selected. As far as I understood, earlier you were selected at the airport with a pink sticker. I assume that by then it's been easier to pretend you weren't to be tested at all when they finally called you.
I also don't know if you are a citizen / resident of Canada. I ain't, and the last thing I want is to get in trouble leaving or re-entering the country for not obeying the random test. Althought I know you could get a hefty fine, I have not heard of someone who really got one. Anyone here has?
I also don't know if you are a citizen / resident of Canada. I ain't, and the last thing I want is to get in trouble leaving or re-entering the country for not obeying the random test. Althought I know you could get a hefty fine, I have not heard of someone who really got one. Anyone here has?
#118
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 11,076
#120




Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Henderson, NV
Programs: Hyatt LT Globalist, Marriot LT Titanium, UA 2.4MM, HH Gold, AS MVPG
Posts: 3,514
I got nailed for random testing after getting back on Tuesday (e-mail, no ArriveCAN notification, despite what someone posted upthread). Requested online test. Apparently Purolator tried to deliver on Thursday, of which I got no notification. Yesterday afternoon, I got an e-mail saying I had a package to pick up. Of course, the place is only open business hours Monday-Friday, and since I didn't have time to pick it up in the brief window before they closed on Friday afternoon, I wouldn't be able to collect the kit until Monday.
I got the phone call this morning checking up on me. When I selected that I hadn't done the test yet, it offered me several options for why:
Now, I was going to be a good citizen and do the test and hit option 1, but if I'm exempt, as is implied by option 4, I'm not going to bother.
I don't see anything on the mandatory testing page about an exemption for those who've recently had COVID and recovered. Anyone know anything about that? If there's no exemption, I'll just do the test so they don't hassle me.
I got the phone call this morning checking up on me. When I selected that I hadn't done the test yet, it offered me several options for why:
- Problems with the testing provider
- [Something else, I forget what]
- Decided not to do the test
- Have proof of positive molecular test in previous 10-180 days
Now, I was going to be a good citizen and do the test and hit option 1, but if I'm exempt, as is implied by option 4, I'm not going to bother.
I don't see anything on the mandatory testing page about an exemption for those who've recently had COVID and recovered. Anyone know anything about that? If there's no exemption, I'll just do the test so they don't hassle me.

