Booked my trip - update now cancelled :(

[MamaLema]

I’m so nervous I want to make sure I get it right. Booked my US trip, Hello Target!. Going by air

When should I book my test if leaving on a Monday at 4 Pm and coming back Monday at 6 PM?
The Disboards is such a helpful place. Thank you so much

 

[damo]

My best shot at it:

Earliest time to test in Canada is on Friday anytime.

Earliest time to test in the USA is on Friday at 6 pm.

 

[KNovacovschi]

Essentially when you go to US it has to be within 3 days however coming home it has to be within 72 hrs of your flight departure time. I know it’s crazy how we make it like that since 72 hrs is 3 days.

 

[MamaLema]

I was so excited for my New York City trip. Have everything booked but the return test.
Even though there are a hundred CVS/Walgreens in Manhattan, none of them do the PCR/NATT, only the rapid one.

Our only options are cough up the money for a private clinic $$$ in Manhattan with 3-5 days to get results or rent a car and drive 40 min each way to New Jersey plus pay to cross the bridge each way.

I will wait until I have vacation next year and try again then.

 

[quandrea]

I was so excited for my New York City trip. Have everything booked but the return test.
Even though there are a hundred CVS/Walgreens in Manhattan, none of them do the PCR/NATT, only the rapid one.

Our only options are cough up the money for a private clinic $$$ in Manhattan with 3-5 days to get results or rent a car and drive 40 min each way to New Jersey plus pay to cross the bridge each way.

I will wait until I have vacation next year and try again then.

I’m sorry to hear that. It’s troubling for me. We have a trip booked to nyc in early May.

 

[hdrolfe]

Which ariport would you be flying from? I believe most have testing onsite, PCR, not sure of the cost though.

 

[MamaLema]

I’m sorry to hear that. It’s troubling for me. We have a trip booked to nyc in early May.

We usually drive but my vacation ends Nov 8. I do understand why PCR/NATT isn’t that widely available since most Americans just use a rapid test for everything.
Are you driving quandrea? If so, it shouldn’t be a problem.
At first I was so happy to see so many CVS locations, but when you click the molecular option, there aren’t many options

 

[SCCNJ]

Oh, I am sorry, that must be so discouraging. It is a good thing you looked in advance. How odd none of them offer a PCR.

 

[MamaLema]

Which ariport would you be flying from? I believe most have testing onsite, PCR, not sure of the cost though.

Supposed to be La Guardia. Is an rapid airport test acceptable to re enter Canada?

 

[quandrea]

We usually drive but my vacation ends Nov 8. I do understand why PCR/NATT isn’t that widely available since most Americans just use a rapid test for everything.
Are you driving quandrea? If so, it shouldn’t be a problem.
At first I was so happy to see so many CVS locations, but when you click the molecular option, there aren’t many options

My husband has considered driving. Why would that make it easier? We will still need to drive far for a test, I think?

 

[MamaLema]

My husband has considered driving. Why would that make it easier? We will still need to drive far for a test, I think?

Easier in a way that you wouldn’t pay for car rental just to go through a drive thru but I guess you’re right.

 

[hdrolfe]

Supposed to be La Guardia. Is an rapid airport test acceptable to re enter Canada?

It depends on which test it is. Rapid antigen are not, but there are other rapid types that may be. I can't find information on which test it is they offer, but they have PCR free there. If you go to La Guardia's website there is a link to the group they are working with on the testing, and other sites listed as well.

From Canada.gc.ca

These tests are considered acceptable molecular tests:

• PCR - Polymerase chain reaction
• Nucleic acid test (NAT) or Nucleic acid amplification test (NAATs)
• Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP)

These tests use methods such as a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab, nose swab, or saliva sample.
Other acceptable types of tests

• RT-PCR – reverse transcription real time PCR
• Quantitative PCR (qPCR)
• Isothermal amplification
• Droplet digital PCR or digital droplet PCR (ddPCR)
• Transcription-mediated amplification (TMA)
• RNA (Ribonucleic acid)
• Ct (cycle threshold)
• CRISPR
• Sequencing
• Next generational sequencing (NGS) or whole genome sequencing (WGS)
• Oxford Nanopore sequencing (LamPORE)
• Detection of the N gene
• Detection of Orf1a/b
• Detection of the S gene
• Detection of the E gene
• Detection of the RdRp gene

 

[KCanuck]

I am so glad I read your post. We are planning to drive to NYC from London, Ontario in December. I assumed it would be easy to get the test to return home. I just did some searches and it is definitely not easy to find a place in Manhattan. I really hope this requirement is removed soon.

 

[quandrea]

I am so glad I read your post. We are planning to drive to NYC from London, Ontario in December. I assumed it would be easy to get the test to return home. I just did some searches and it is definitely not easy to find a place in Manhattan. I really hope this requirement is removed soon.

Same here. I just thought we’d be fine. I’m sorry you’ve had to cancel @MamaLema. I’ll be keeping an eye on this. LaGuardia looks promising, or we’ll just cough up the big bucks for a Manhattan clinic. Fingers crossed that this testing gets dropped.

 

[TropicalDIS]

Was looking into going to NYC at the end of August. Ended up not going because flight prices were crazy. There were mobile testing vans around NYC, where you could get tested for free, same deal as Wal-greens. Walk-ins only I believe. There were Canadians on Reddit-NYC who had confirmed this.

Not sure if it's still going on two months later, but i would assume so. Anyone going to NYC should look into it further, hope this helps!

 

[motherof5]

My best shot at it:

Earliest time to test in Canada is on Friday anytime.

Earliest time to test in the USA is on Friday at 6 pm.

Make sure it's the right test as some places only accept PCR

 

[KCanuck]

I have messaged NYC Health and Hospitals. They have a site in Times Square that does Rapid Molecular tests. I think that is acceptable for getting back to Canada. I’ll report back what they say. I don’t know if anyone can get a test there, or just Americans.

 

[KCanuck]

The NYC Health and Hospitals messaged me back and said that tourists from other countries can get the Rapid Molecular test at no cost. This seems to good to be true? I think my next step is to confirm that the Rapid Molecular is acceptable.

 

[TropicalDIS]

The NYC Health and Hospitals messaged me back and said that tourists from other countries can get the Rapid Molecular test at no cost. This seems to good to be true? I think my next step is to confirm that the Rapid Molecular is acceptable.

Canadians were reporting this on Reddit back in August as well.

 

[spewey]

Hey all - just a heads up as the terms do get really confusing - at the moment what is needed to return to Canada (by land or air) is a molecular test taken within 72 hours of your planned to Canada flight departure, or your arrival at a land crossing. But the PCR is just one of MANY such molecular tests.

I know people use PCR/molecular interchangeably, and assume that any "Rapid" test is anitgen. But that is not the case, as the most popular test to return seems to be the Walgreens Rapid ID Now NAAT, which is molecular.

Really what I think needs to happen is withdrawing the testing mandate for vaxxed travelers - that will end ALL the confusion ...