Canada Scrapping PCR COVID-19 Test For Short Cross-Border Trips

By the end of the month, fully vaccinated Canadians returning home from international trips 72 hours or less won’t have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test.

The new rule goes into effect on Nov. 30.

The exemption also applies to children under 12, and individuals with medical exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccination.

However, fully vaccinated Canadians returning from trips longer than 72 hours will still be required to show proof of a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test upon return.

Currently, people must show a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours of their scheduled flight or arrival at the border, or proof of a previous positive test result taken between 14 and 180 days before travel.

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Some private companies in the U.S. offer PCR tests for travellers for more than $200, which border town mayors have complained about as rules around travel eased.

“Are we going to force people to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars every time they want to come back to Canada with their family?” Niagara Falls, Ont., Mayor Jim Diodati previously told Global News.

“That’s the question that we’d like to know and we’re waiting for some answers.”

2:14Federal government expected to loosen COVID-19 testing requirements for Canadian travellers

Federal government expected to loosen COVID-19 testing requirements for Canadian travellers Friday’s announcement included a slew of other border measure changes, such as expanding the list of acceptable COVID-19 vaccines travellers may have when entering Canada.

The measure, which will also start Nov. 30, includes vaccines such as Sinopharm, Sinovac and COVAXIN, matching the World Health Organization Emergency Use Listing.

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More to come.