CDC changing requirements tomorrow...

[Toy Story Fan]

Can anyone find when the new restrictions officially take effect? We leave this Saturday morning to Orlando and our rapid antigen test is tonight. I’ve been looking for the last 2 hours and can’t find confirmation whether it starts right away or on Monday December 6th. I’m getting a little nervous!

 

[podgirl]

Does this apply for vaccinated Canadians driving across the land border, then boarding a flight to the US there? Our flight is from Buffalo, we will be driving there the night before then flying southwest to Orlando.

Here is what was on the CBC News Alerts on Twitter:

White House official tells CBC News that new U.S. COVID-19 travel restrictions will not apply to those crossing the Canada-U.S. land border. U.S. President Joe Biden to announce this afternoon all inbound international air passengers will need a test within one day of departure.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

We haven’t heard yet, but I’m erring on the side of not. The restrictions for land vs air were never aligned - not saying whether that’s warranted either way, but the land border literally *just* opened. Could you imagine 2 days after opening to testless -72 hr trips, they impose more restrictions

Here is what was on the CBC News Alerts on Twitter:

White House official tells CBC News that new U.S. COVID-19 travel restrictions will not apply to those crossing the Canada-U.S. land border. U.S. President Joe Biden to announce this afternoon all inbound international air passengers will need a test within one day of departure.

Thank you both!
So as it stands now we don’t have to get a test period as we are driving to Buffalo, even if we are flying from there to Orlando.
I feel like I should book some tests anyway…. In case this changes…
We also don’t know at this point if we will be given a test at land border when crossing back into Canada after our trip.
Unless I missed something?

 

[pigletto]

Here is what was on the CBC News Alerts on Twitter:

White House official tells CBC News that new U.S. COVID-19 travel restrictions will not apply to those crossing the Canada-U.S. land border. U.S. President Joe Biden to announce this afternoon all inbound international air passengers will need a test within one day of departure.

This really makes so little sense. I can be just as Covid infected by land as by air. I don’t get it .

 

[wdwmom3]

This really makes so little sense. I can be just as Covid infected by land as by air. I don’t get it .

Yep. None of it makes sense.

 

[Aug2020distrip]

I have a feeling I’m going to just have to eventually forgo flying through Canada and drive down to Fargo and fly to Florida from there. But we have our WestJet vouchers to use…still hope this is done quickly and April will be fine…

 

[pigletto]

I have a feeling I’m going to just have to eventually forgo flying through Canada and drive down to Fargo and fly to Florida from there. But we have our WestJet vouchers to use…still hope this is done quickly and April will be fine…

The advantage for me with Westjet is to know that every one except very young children will be vaccinated on the plane there and back and tested before leaving and returning home .

It’s a crapshoot on an American airline as it’s not required and those are some close quarters. I live in spitting distance of the land border but I chose to go out of Toronto this time. We love flying out of Buffalo but we will be trying hard to not be exposed to Covid and end up having to quarantine.. the Canadian flights seem like the better option.

 

[jenna1212]

In that news link , they quote an insurance broker saying his clients are having a hard time finding options to get an antigen test done that would be ready by the next day. I find that hard to believe, with pharmacies offering antigen testing that come back within 15-20 minutes. I realize timing may be harder around Xmas. Unless the broker is under the impression that a PCR test is needed.

I think the insurance broker was confused. It sounds like he was talking about a PCR test and not a rapid antigen test.

 

[jenna1212]

This is what I found on the Air Canada site regarding cancellations: https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/travel-news-and-updates/2020/covid-19.html#/ It looks like we won't get our money back if we find out we can't go after testing, but at least we'll have a credit.

 

[bookbabe626]

Can anyone find when the new restrictions officially take effect? We leave this Saturday morning to Orlando and our rapid antigen test is tonight. I’ve been looking for the last 2 hours and can’t find confirmation whether it starts right away or on Monday December 6th. I’m getting a little nervous!

New US rules take effect Monday Dec 6th at 12:01am, so new rules apply to anyone flying to the US Monday or later. We had to check because we fly out tomorrow…

 

[hdrolfe]

The White House announcement says one day, and they have all been pretty clear up to now that it's one day (not 24 hours).

• Strengthening global pre-departure testing protocols: Early next week, the United States will tighten pre-departure testing protocols by requiring all inbound international travelers to test within one day of departure globally, regardless of nationality or vaccination status. This tighter testing timeline provides an added degree of public health protection as scientists continue to assess the Omicron variant.

 

[KNovacovschi]

Thank you both!
So as it stands now we don’t have to get a test period as we are driving to Buffalo, even if we are flying from there to Orlando.
I feel like I should book some tests anyway…. In case this changes…
We also don’t know at this point if we will be given a test at land border when crossing back into Canada after our trip.
Unless I missed something?

To drive over the border no you don't need a test and to come home if your trip is 72 hrs or less then no test is required but if longer then 72 hrs then the PCR negative test is required, no matter if you are driving over or flying. You also do have to be fully vaccinated except children under 12 are exempt. You also need to complete the ArriveCan app no matter if you drive or fly.

 

[von Monster]

To drive over the border no you don't need a test

The Globe and Mail is reporting differently - U.S. to require Canadians, all other foreign air passengers to get COVID-19 test day before entry - The Globe and Mail - published 10 minutes before I posted this.

One senior government source said the Canadian government’s understanding is that the new 24-hour testing rule will also apply to people crossing into the U.S. at the land border. The Globe is not identifying the source because they were not permitted to disclose that information.

I would plan on having the ability to get a test done if I was going to be driving across the border after Monday, or at least monitoring everything closely.

 

[KNovacovschi]

The Globe and Mail is reporting differently - U.S. to require Canadians, all other foreign air passengers to get COVID-19 test day before entry - The Globe and Mail - published 10 minutes before I posted this.



I would plan on having the ability to get a test done if I was going to be driving across the border after Monday, or at least monitoring everything closely.

Yes entering by air not land.

 

[von Monster]

Yes entering by air not land.

Did you read the article and the quote I posted from it? It explicitly states the Canadian government is expecting the US to require a test at the land border.

 

[KNovacovschi]

Did you read the article and the quote I posted from it?

No because I don’t subscribe so I can’t but that is the only article to say that. I watched the press conference and read the actual statement from the Whitehouse today. I will go by what that states before a Canadian newspaper. We’ve never had to test to enter by land since it’s reopened.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

The Globe and Mail is reporting differently - U.S. to require Canadians, all other foreign air passengers to get COVID-19 test day before entry - The Globe and Mail - published 10 minutes before I posted this.



I would plan on having the ability to get a test done if I was going to be driving across the border after Monday, or at least monitoring everything closely.

We are driving to Buffalo on the 19th, then flying to Orlando & yes I’m prepared to get the test beforehand, I know it can change. Though I would say they would have to axe the no test for trips under 72 hrs if it does.

 

[Starwind]

I’m hoping it’s the day before (not 24 hours). We fly out at night and we have some other stuff going on the night before that we can’t change.

Per the White House backgrounder it is 24 hours before departure, not "one day". See: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing...t-the-delta-and-omicron-variants-this-winter/

 

[Starwind]

Does this apply for vaccinated Canadians driving across the land border, then boarding a flight to the US there? Our flight is from Buffalo, we will be driving there the night before then flying southwest to Orlando.

No, land border crossing into the US does not change, for now at least. No test required.

SW

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Per the White House backgrounder it is 24 hours before departure, not "one day". See: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing...t-the-delta-and-omicron-variants-this-winter/

No, land border crossing into the US does not change, for now at least. No test required.

SW

It’s all so confusing….
I guess at this point I’m going to assume the following: will need a test 24 hrs prior to our planned entry to the US by land…
I’ll book some tests tomorrow just in case, if this is not required I’ll cancel.