Random COVID-19 testing resumes at four major airports; tests to be done off-site

Mandatory random COVID-19 testing resumes today for travellers coming in through Canada’s four major airports in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal. A passenger from Air India flight 187 from New Delhi arrives at Pearson Airport in Toronto on Wednesday April 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

TORONTO — Air travellers who test positive for COVID-19 following random arrival tests – which resumed in Canada on Tuesday – will have to quarantine for 10 days even if the provinces they land in no longer require isolation due to the virus.

The federal government has said the resumption of the testing, which now takes place at locations outside the country’s four major airports, would help detect new variants coming into Canada. Ottawa said the 10-day isolation for those testing positive is mandatory even if provinces and territories have different rules.

Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba no longer require anyone who tests positive for the virus to isolate, although those provinces still recommend isolating for 5 days from the time of symptom onset. In Nova Scotia, only those who live in a long-term care facility or congregate living setting are legally required to isolate for seven days.

The mandatory random testing applies to fully vaccinated passengers arriving in Canada through Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal.

At Toronto’s Pearson airport, some questioned the need for the random tests on Tuesday.

‘”I don’t think it’s necessary,” said Sobia Sadiq, who arrived in Toronto from Houston, Texas, to visit her brother. “And if somebody has already travelled so far, and they unfortunately tested positive, then it’s unfair to them.”

Sadiq said she wasn’t selected for a random test and noted that her travel experience had been smooth.

Rasha Bassyouni, who returned to Toronto from a wedding in Dallas, said she was previously ambivalent about the random tests but now supports the measure after witnessing how quickly the virus spread among some members of her family.

“It’s only five minutes of your own time,” said Bassyouni, who worked as a physician in Egypt before moving to Canada. “And this is for your own safety, for your family’s safety, and for the Canadian safety.”

Fully vaccinated travellers selected for random testing will receive an email notification within 15 minutes of completing their customs declaration, the federal government has said. That email will contain information to help them arrange a test in their region, either through an in-person appointment or a virtual appointment for a self-swab test.

Ottawa had paused the random testing of vaccinated travellers entering Canada by air last month as it worked to move the actual testing process to locations outside of airports.

At the time, the federal government faced mounting criticism from tourism and air travel industry groups that felt public health restrictions were to blame for the chaos at Canadian airports.

The situation at Canadian airports has remained chaotic at times since testing was put on hold, although several travellers arriving in Toronto on Tuesday said they had not faced issues despite bracing for problems.

Kerry Carstairs, who arrived on a flight from Newark, N.J., for a business trip, said she had a good experience at the airport.

“I was impressed with the technology, so didn’t really have to talk to a soul … then, just went to the first customs official, they asked me a few questions, and I was off,” she said, adding she was not selected for a random test.

Bill Mcdonald said he was off the plane and through customs in a “matter of minutes” after arriving in Toronto from Minneapolis, Minn., without being selected for a random test.

“It could’ve been time of day, not sure, but it was just perfect,” he added.

Travellers who are not fully vaccinated must test for COVID-19 on both the first and eighth days of their mandatory 14-day quarantine, unless exempt.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 19, 2022.

Jordan Omstead, The Canadian Press