Canada Random COVID testing after arrival

[ssgtravel]

Has anyone experienced this prior to your cruise? How did it work?

 

[Doingitagain]

It changed in July, so hopefully someone who sailed in the past few weeks can respond. It is no longer at the airport.

 

[JLemaire7]

Following this. We have a trip to Vancouver in September but not for a cruise and have been curious about others' experiences since the random testing started again on July 19. My understanding is that if you are chosen you will receive an email from ArriveCAN within 15 minutes of clearing customs asking you to test and then you have until the end of the day the next day to take a test (ie: if you arrive on a Wednesday then you would have to get a test before end of day Thursday).

Seems like if you are flying to Vancouver to catch a cruise you should arrive the day prior to the cruise just in case you are selected for testing though I think they said you can proceed to cruises and connecting flights without testing first and no need to quarantine while waiting for the results if you are fully vaccinated. Not sure how you would get a test if you were selected and had to go straight from the airport to the cruise terminal.

 

[StarSeven7]

I don’t have any experience with that exact scenario but my 2 nieces both got randomly selected on separate trips to Canada this summer crossing the land border. They were visiting from the US. I live in Canada and we have crossed frequently in recent months and never been selected. We’ve done the tests though when they were mandatory and my nieces both got kits with instructions for everything to do. You’ll need wifi or data to make the video call. My niece who was visiting me was able to drop it off at a LifeLabs location in my city and my other niece had to drop it off at fedex in the city she was in to be mailed to lifelabs. It’s a bit of a hassle but it’s fairly straightforward and plenty of directions to walk you through it.

 

[yowcruiser]

The current process is that if you are randomly selected, you will receive an e-mail from either of noreply.pasdereponses@notification.canada.ca or quarantine.covid19.quarantaine@phac-aspc.gc.ca advising that you or someone in your party has been selected for random testing. You can complete your test in-person or pick up a self-swab kit at select test provider locations, select pharmacies, or via a virtual appointment for a self-swab test. The location will not be at the airport, but near the airport... there might be alternative locations in the city to take the test. From the point you receive your e-mail, you have to complete your test by EOD the day following your arrival into Canada. Now, if you arrive on a Sunday and fly out on a Monday... you are technically out of Canada by then...

 

[DS12522]

Adding specific information to this for "90 day COVID Recovered" cruisers selected for Random testing - to perhaps save you from our frustration and anxiety:

TLDR: What we ended up doing: We did nothing and waited for them to call (from 888-336-7735 after 48 hours - this number comes up as "SPAM Risk" on my phone BTW). When you answer the automated call there is an option there to declare you are 90 days COVID recovered (tested positive within the proper range) and give them the date you tested positive. No further direction is provided by them once you enter your information other than to wait for them to call you if they feel it is required.
What we apparently could have done - this is NOT the route we took because we didn't have this information - received days later in an email: "You will not be required to complete this test if you report a positive molecular test result taken within 10 to 180 days of entry by calling the automated Public Health Agency of Canada line at 1-833-641-0343."

Of the four people in our party, two were "randomly" tested. Both of us cruised last week as fully vaccinated and as "90 day COVID recovered" for which there exists an exemption for this random mandatory testing. The selection emails you receive notifying you of your mandatory testing requirement have NO OPTION for declaring this exemption. We received our emails about the time we got through the Immigration and Luggage process. The information desk at YVR airport was no help. We called the number in the selection email seeking additional information - the folks who answered that number were no help but consistent (and rude btw). They said we could send an email to this email address seeking help: phac.emergencyorder-decretdurgencecovid19.aspc@canada.ca (just imagine someone trying to read that email address to you on the phone in the crowded airport - two of us called separate times and each repeated the email address letter for letter and neither of us was correct - I ended up googling it). The automated response we received to emails to that address were useless. It was days later we got a meaningful response and by then they had called us.

The email you receive from CANADA has the subject: "Complete your mandatory COVID-19 test". The alternate testing sites in the city are drug stores.

The whole episode caused us great anxiety and Canada could have easily addressed this by including the information we received later in their original email.

This is the second email I received from CANADA:

Greetings {me}, Thank you for your correspondence regarding the mandatory random testing requirements. From June 11 to July 19, 2022, the Government of Canada temporarily stopped mandatory random arrival testing at all airports for fully vaccinated travellers. This didn't change mandatory random arrival testing at land borders. Mandatory random testing (MRT) resumed on July 19, 2022 for travellers who qualify as fully vaccinated and arrive by air. Testing will be completed outside of airports. If selected for MRT, travellers will receive an email notification within 15 minutes of completing their customs declaration. It's important to follow the instructions provided in the email notification to help travellers arrange for their test. Please see the following new release for further details. You will not be required to complete this test if you report a positive molecular test result taken within 10 to 180 days of entry by calling the automated Public Health Agency of Canada line at 1-833-641-0343. Please note, after you have called to report your test, it'll take 48-72 hours for the system to update. For a list of acceptable types of tests and the information that must be included on the test result, please visit the {website} website. If the prior positive test wasn't a molecular test or if the test doesn't meet the criteria listed in the link provided above, you're required to complete the mandatory random test. If you test positive on this test, you will be required to isolate for 10 days. After completing your test, you will no longer receive calls or email notifications regarding testing requirements. We may contact you to confirm your compliance and ask for proof of your prior positive test result. It's important that you answer all calls from 1-888-336-7735. Failure to comply, or providing false or misleading information, could lead to penalties, including fines.

Kind regards, Correspondence and Interpretation Public Health Agency of Canada phac.emergencyorder-decretdurgencecovid19.aspc@phac-aspc.gc.ca


I hope this helps someone. Have fun on your Alaskan Cruise.

 

[KantLose]

Adding specific information to this for "90 day COVID Recovered" cruisers selected for Random testing - to perhaps save you from our frustration and anxiety:

TLDR: What we ended up doing: We did nothing and waited for them to call (from 888-336-7735 after 48 hours - this number comes up as "SPAM Risk" on my phone BTW). When you answer the automated call there is an option there to declare you are 90 days COVID recovered (tested positive within the proper range) and give them the date you tested positive. No further direction is provided by them once you enter your information other than to wait for them to call you if they feel it is required.
What we apparently could have done - this is NOT the route we took because we didn't have this information - received days later in an email: "You will not be required to complete this test if you report a positive molecular test result taken within 10 to 180 days of entry by calling the automated Public Health Agency of Canada line at 1-833-641-0343."

Of the four people in our party, two were "randomly" tested. Both of us cruised last week as fully vaccinated and as "90 day COVID recovered" for which there exists an exemption for this random mandatory testing. The selection emails you receive notifying you of your mandatory testing requirement have NO OPTION for declaring this exemption. We received our emails about the time we got through the Immigration and Luggage process. The information desk at YVR airport was no help. We called the number in the selection email seeking additional information - the folks who answered that number were no help but consistent (and rude btw). They said we could send an email to this email address seeking help: phac.emergencyorder-decretdurgencecovid19.aspc@canada.ca (just imagine someone trying to read that email address to you on the phone in the crowded airport - two of us called separate times and each repeated the email address letter for letter and neither of us was correct - I ended up googling it). The automated response we received to emails to that address were useless. It was days later we got a meaningful response and by then they had called us.

The email you receive from CANADA has the subject: "Complete your mandatory COVID-19 test". The alternate testing sites in the city are drug stores.

The whole episode caused us great anxiety and Canada could have easily addressed this by including the information we received later in their original email.

This is the second email I received from CANADA:

Greetings {me}, Thank you for your correspondence regarding the mandatory random testing requirements. From June 11 to July 19, 2022, the Government of Canada temporarily stopped mandatory random arrival testing at all airports for fully vaccinated travellers. This didn't change mandatory random arrival testing at land borders. Mandatory random testing (MRT) resumed on July 19, 2022 for travellers who qualify as fully vaccinated and arrive by air. Testing will be completed outside of airports. If selected for MRT, travellers will receive an email notification within 15 minutes of completing their customs declaration. It's important to follow the instructions provided in the email notification to help travellers arrange for their test. Please see the following new release for further details. You will not be required to complete this test if you report a positive molecular test result taken within 10 to 180 days of entry by calling the automated Public Health Agency of Canada line at 1-833-641-0343. Please note, after you have called to report your test, it'll take 48-72 hours for the system to update. For a list of acceptable types of tests and the information that must be included on the test result, please visit the {website} website. If the prior positive test wasn't a molecular test or if the test doesn't meet the criteria listed in the link provided above, you're required to complete the mandatory random test. If you test positive on this test, you will be required to isolate for 10 days. After completing your test, you will no longer receive calls or email notifications regarding testing requirements. We may contact you to confirm your compliance and ask for proof of your prior positive test result. It's important that you answer all calls from 1-888-336-7735. Failure to comply, or providing false or misleading information, could lead to penalties, including fines.

Kind regards, Correspondence and Interpretation Public Health Agency of Canada phac.emergencyorder-decretdurgencecovid19.aspc@phac-aspc.gc.ca


I hope this helps someone. Have fun on your Alaskan Cruise.

Thanks for sharing this. Just wondering, were you randomly selected at the airport or land crossing?

 

[DS12522]

Thanks for sharing this. Just wondering, were you randomly selected at the airport or land crossing?

We flew into YVR (two couples, each arriving from a different US airport on different flights/carriers at about the same time) and I received the email while we waited for our friends to get through the arrival process. Our friend received his email shortly thereafter. With our luck, we expected to be selected, so I checked my mail while we waited. My wife and I were tied to my email address in ArriveCan - presumably I would have received an email to my email address stating she had been selected (had she been the 'lucky' one).

Bonus Tip: If offered during your cruise, Piano Party (Adults only) in Azure is a fun hour. It might be labeled 'Variety Show' in the Explorer.

 

[JLemaire7]

Adding specific information to this for "90 day COVID Recovered" cruisers selected for Random testing - to perhaps save you from our frustration and anxiety:

TLDR: What we ended up doing: We did nothing and waited for them to call (from 888-336-7735 after 48 hours - this number comes up as "SPAM Risk" on my phone BTW). When you answer the automated call there is an option there to declare you are 90 days COVID recovered (tested positive within the proper range) and give them the date you tested positive. No further direction is provided by them once you enter your information other than to wait for them to call you if they feel it is required.
What we apparently could have done - this is NOT the route we took because we didn't have this information - received days later in an email: "You will not be required to complete this test if you report a positive molecular test result taken within 10 to 180 days of entry by calling the automated Public Health Agency of Canada line at 1-833-641-0343."

Of the four people in our party, two were "randomly" tested. Both of us cruised last week as fully vaccinated and as "90 day COVID recovered" for which there exists an exemption for this random mandatory testing. The selection emails you receive notifying you of your mandatory testing requirement have NO OPTION for declaring this exemption. We received our emails about the time we got through the Immigration and Luggage process. The information desk at YVR airport was no help. We called the number in the selection email seeking additional information - the folks who answered that number were no help but consistent (and rude btw). They said we could send an email to this email address seeking help: phac.emergencyorder-decretdurgencecovid19.aspc@canada.ca (just imagine someone trying to read that email address to you on the phone in the crowded airport - two of us called separate times and each repeated the email address letter for letter and neither of us was correct - I ended up googling it). The automated response we received to emails to that address were useless. It was days later we got a meaningful response and by then they had called us.

The email you receive from CANADA has the subject: "Complete your mandatory COVID-19 test". The alternate testing sites in the city are drug stores.

The whole episode caused us great anxiety and Canada could have easily addressed this by including the information we received later in their original email.

This is the second email I received from CANADA:

Greetings {me}, Thank you for your correspondence regarding the mandatory random testing requirements. From June 11 to July 19, 2022, the Government of Canada temporarily stopped mandatory random arrival testing at all airports for fully vaccinated travellers. This didn't change mandatory random arrival testing at land borders. Mandatory random testing (MRT) resumed on July 19, 2022 for travellers who qualify as fully vaccinated and arrive by air. Testing will be completed outside of airports. If selected for MRT, travellers will receive an email notification within 15 minutes of completing their customs declaration. It's important to follow the instructions provided in the email notification to help travellers arrange for their test. Please see the following new release for further details. You will not be required to complete this test if you report a positive molecular test result taken within 10 to 180 days of entry by calling the automated Public Health Agency of Canada line at 1-833-641-0343. Please note, after you have called to report your test, it'll take 48-72 hours for the system to update. For a list of acceptable types of tests and the information that must be included on the test result, please visit the {website} website. If the prior positive test wasn't a molecular test or if the test doesn't meet the criteria listed in the link provided above, you're required to complete the mandatory random test. If you test positive on this test, you will be required to isolate for 10 days. After completing your test, you will no longer receive calls or email notifications regarding testing requirements. We may contact you to confirm your compliance and ask for proof of your prior positive test result. It's important that you answer all calls from 1-888-336-7735. Failure to comply, or providing false or misleading information, could lead to penalties, including fines.

Kind regards, Correspondence and Interpretation Public Health Agency of Canada phac.emergencyorder-decretdurgencecovid19.aspc@phac-aspc.gc.ca


I hope this helps someone. Have fun on your Alaskan Cruise.

My husband and I both had Covid in late June/early July but never got PCR tests—only at home tests.

 

[soniam]

My husband and I both had Covid in late June/early July but never got PCR tests—only at home tests.

Well, at least you will probably have the immunity, even if you can't skip testing. We got it in late June, but our son never did. Our son just got it on the 9 night Southern Caribbean. We all quarantined in our cabin, but we never got it from him. We didn't mask at all on the cruise and not much in the parks before the cruise. Our son masked in the parks (N95) and mostly on the cruise. Hope you have an excellent cruise.

 

[JLemaire7]

Well, at least you will probably have the immunity, even if you can't skip testing. We got it in late June, but our son never did. Our son just got it on the 9 night Southern Caribbean. We all quarantined in our cabin, but we never got it from him. We didn't mask at all on the cruise and not much in the parks before the cruise. Our son masked in the parks (N95) and mostly on the cruise. Hope you have an excellent cruise.

Thank you. Yeah we feel like we might have some immunity for awhile but not sure how long. We aren't cruising just visiting Vancouver for a long weekend.