U.S. Border reopens August 9! What effect do you think that'll have?

[dust4three]

I have a trip coming up on December 27th (first trip in 2 years to Canada). Can definitely use some help from you fellow merbies who have traveled to MTL in recent days.

I will travel by car so my guess is that coming back to the U.S. isn't as difficult as by air meaning I don't even need to do a COVID test in Canada to show proof of a negative test to the U.S. boarder. Is this still the case? I looked up the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Canada webpage and seemed that it is still the current rule (at least as of today).

The tricky part is entering Canada. I saw two sets of rules from two different sources:
1. I just read from the the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Canada webpage that Canada requires a negative PCR and/or serology test taken within 24 hours of arrival under the Entry and Exit Requirements section

COVID-19 Information - Canada

Last updated January 4, 2023 at 3:55 pm EST. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Order requiring proof of vaccination for non-U.S.

ca.usembassy.gov

2. per Canada Government COVID-19 Travel webpage, arriving by car from the US requires a negative PCR taken within 72 hours of arrival

COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders - Travel.gc.ca

COVID-19 border measures have ended as of October 1, 2022 for all travellers entering or returning to Canada by air, land or sea.

travel.gc.ca

A PCR test result may take 1 - 3 days, I found the 24 hour rule from the U.S. Embassy site too difficult to follow, but would like to hear your opinions. This may as well help others who are planning for a trip to MTL.

Any tips/suggestions are appreciated!

 

[envelopes]

I have a trip coming up on December 27th (first trip in 2 years to Canada). Can definitely use some help from you fellow merbies who have traveled to MTL in recent days.

I will travel by car so my guess is that coming back to the U.S. isn't as difficult as by air meaning I don't even need to do a COVID test in Canada to show proof of a negative test to the U.S. boarder. Is this still the case? I looked up the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Canada webpage and seemed that it is still the current rule (at least as of today).

The tricky part is entering Canada. I saw two sets of rules from two different sources:
1. I just read from the the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Canada webpage that Canada requires a negative PCR and/or serology test taken within 24 hours of arrival under the Entry and Exit Requirements section

COVID-19 Information - Canada

Last updated January 4, 2023 at 3:55 pm EST. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Order requiring proof of vaccination for non-U.S.

ca.usembassy.gov

2. per Canada Government COVID-19 Travel webpage, arriving by car from the US requires a negative PCR taken within 72 hours of arrival

COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders - Travel.gc.ca

COVID-19 border measures have ended as of October 1, 2022 for all travellers entering or returning to Canada by air, land or sea.

travel.gc.ca

A PCR test result may take 1 - 3 days, I found the 24 hour rule from the U.S. Embassy site too difficult to follow, but would like to hear your opinions. This may as well help others who are planning for a trip to MTL.

Any tips/suggestions are appreciated!

Going to Canada, Canada wants 72 hour PCR. Both driving and flying.

Going to US, must have test within 24 hours if you are flying. No test required if you are driving.

 

[dust4three]

Going to Canada, Canada wants 72 hour PCR. Both driving and flying.

Going to US, must have test within 24 hours if you are flying. No test required if you are driving.

Thanks a lot!

I thought it makes more sense to follow Canada's entry rule (72 hour PCR) going to Canada.

 

[fromtheoutside]

Going to Canada, Canada wants 72 hour PCR. Both driving and flying.

Going to US, must have test within 24 hours if you are flying. No test required if you are driving.

I don’t think Canada wants a PCR test. They want a molecular test of which a PCR is one. The others are a NAT, NAAT and a RT-LAMP. PCR is too expensive and takes too long. Walgreens offers a test called ID NOW, through their drive through. It’s free, it’s a NAAT test and the results come back within 90 mins to 24 hrs. I got mine back in literally 90 mins. And the test result is valid to get back into Canada.

This was all valid about 60 days ago, doesn’t seem like anything has changed from what I’ve read. But as always do your own research.

 

[envelopes]

I don’t think Canada wants a PCR test. They want a molecular test of which a PCR is one. The others are a NAT, NAAT and a RT-LAMP. PCR is too expensive and takes too long. Walgreens offers a test called ID NOW, through their drive through. It’s free, it’s a NAAT test and the results come back within 90 mins to 24 hrs. I got mine back in literally 90 mins. And the test result is valid to get back into Canada.

This was all valid about 60 days ago, doesn’t seem like anything has changed from what I’ve read. But as always do your own research.

I said PCR because that's what he was asking about.

I don't know about taking too long, here in NY, PCR turnaround time has been less than 24 hours for me for the past 5 months.

Walgreens offers a test called ID NOW, through their drive through. It’s free, it’s a NAAT test and the results come back within 90 mins to 24 hrs. I got mine back in literally 90 mins. And the test result is valid to get back into Canada.

Interesting. I have to check this out on my next trip. Not sure it's offered in my area

 

[IamNY]

I took 2 PCR tests on my last trip to Montreal a couple of months ago. One came back in 50 hours and the other came back 4 days later while I was at an XO outcall. PCR tests should only take 24 hours, but here in NY they really suck at getting it back to you in a reasonable amount of time. Had I not taken 2 tests my trip would have been delayed or even cancelled because of the damn PCR test.

 

[envelopes]

I took 2 PCR tests on my last trip to Montreal a couple of months ago. One came back in 50 hours and the other came back 4 days later while I was at an XO outcall. PCR tests should only take 24 hours, but here in NY they really suck at getting it back to you in a reasonable amount of time. Had I not taken 2 tests my trip would have been delayed or even cancelled because of the damn PCR test.

It depends on which place you go to.

I hear the urgent care or private places are VERY bad with turnaround. They charge you while marketing a "fast turnaround", but usually take 3-5 days, and then ask you to pay an extra $300 for "express". It's all a scam.

ANY government run places like hospitals have been incredibly fast (and free). Again, last 5 months, all my test results have come back within 24 hours.

 

[IamNY]

It depends on which place you go to.

I hear the urgent care or private places are VERY bad with turnaround. They charge you while marketing a "fast turnaround", but usually take 3-5 days, and then ask you to pay an extra $300 for "express". It's all a scam.

ANY government run places like hospitals have been incredibly fast (and free). Again, last 5 months, all my test results have come back within 24 hours.

I'm sure that's true, but who in their right mind wants to walk into a hospital during a pandemic to get a PCR test so they can go banging Quebecois girls? Those places should be avoided because people with real problems need to get their testing completed and it's also very risky being amongst those that think they have the Covid. I've used CVS, Walgreens, etc. Stay in your car, drive thru, no contact tests. That's the extent of what I'm willing to do. None of the pharmacies are charging anything for the PCR tests as far as I know. But no matter what the turn around time is I would rather stay here in the states for the next few weeks instead of running into a quarantine situation in Canada. No thank you.