SINGAPORE, 25 July 2022: The Canadian government has reinstated random Covid-19 testing for passengers entering four major airports, a move that could strain the country’s already stretched airline sector and dampen demand for international travel to Canada.
Canada still requires passengers to be fully vaccinated to enter the country, but it lifted all testing requirements for arriving vaccinated passengers last month. Now random testing has been mandated again for passengers arriving at Calgary (YYC), Montreal (YUL), Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and Vancouver (YVR) airports.
However, the testing has been moved off the airport complex, with travellers selected for testing told to visit government-approved sites such as a pharmacy the day after their arrival. If a passenger tests positive, they will be required to quarantine for 10 days.
Passengers flying to Canada must download the ArriveCAN app 72 hours before departure. Once a passenger clears customs, they 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,
For passengers connecting at the four airports to fly to another domestic airport, testing can be done at the final destination, according to the Canadian government.
(Source: AFP)
