FAQ: Travelling to/from Orlando (Including PCR/Antigen Test Info for Canadians)

[Sue M]

100%. I agree. And all the gov't is really doing is handing our Canadian airline's travel income over to U.S. companies . . . because so many people will simply drive across the border and fly in and out of a U.S. airport to avoid testing.

How does that avoid testing? As far as I know even if you drive across you still have to show test results, both ways.

 

[mamaofsix]

How does that avoid testing? As far as I know even if you drive across you still have to show test results, both ways.

You do not have to show test results to drive on the way down. You then avoid having to test to board a flight down to Orlando or a flight back to a bordering US city . You only have to test to drive back across. And if you test positive for driving, they have to let you back across into Canada.

You cannot do that with a direct flight in or out of Canada.

 

[Sue M]

You do not have to show test results to drive on the way down. You then avoid having to test to board a flight down to Orlando or a flight back to a bordering US city . You only have to test to drive back across. And if you test positive for driving, they have to let you back across into Canada.

You cannot do that with a direct flight in or out of Canada.

Thanks, I didn’t know you didn’t have to show a test result to drive across to US! I’ve been considering the 3 hr drive down to SeaTac to pick up cheaper flight. But concerned about finding testing place returning home around airport area. Orlando is such a big tourist town testing is plentiful. Washington not so much. Guess I could still do NAAT test in Orlando which is good for 72 hrs.
I don’t know why news is making such a big deal about Antigen test. It changes nothing.

 

[dlhdisney]

I phoned Switch Health this morning. We have the Switch Health Rapid Antigen kits to use to travel to the US by air. I was holding off ordering our return kits hoping they would accept Rapid Antigen using the Switch Health kits but when I called they cannot provide any guidance on what kits will be accepted for return to Canada - other than the RT-Lamp kits are accepted and this is indicated on the site. They suggested I call Public Health Canada to find out what is accepted but their website information is either not up to date or Rapid Antigen is not accepted? But I did read the following on a news site:
The antigen test must be administered by a laboratory, health-care entity or telehealth service, Duclos said. Rapid tests administered at home will not be sufficient.
So guess I'll see if I can reach Health Canada by phone??

 

[mamaofsix]

Thanks, I didn’t know you didn’t have to show a test result to drive across to US! I’ve been considering the 3 hr drive down to SeaTac to pick up cheaper flight. But concerned about finding testing place returning home around airport area. Orlando is such a big tourist town testing is plentiful. Washington not so much. Guess I could still do NAAT test in Orlando which is good for 72 hrs.
I don’t know why news is making such a big deal about Antigen test. It changes nothing.

Yes, true.

 

[hdrolfe]

Thanks, I didn’t know you didn’t have to show a test result to drive across to US! I’ve been considering the 3 hr drive down to SeaTac to pick up cheaper flight. But concerned about finding testing place returning home around airport area. Orlando is such a big tourist town testing is plentiful. Washington not so much. Guess I could still do NAAT test in Orlando which is good for 72 hrs.
I don’t know why news is making such a big deal about Antigen test. It changes nothing.

I'd do that, the NAAT in Orlando. Even if it's positive you should still be able to drive home (though of course that possible fee thing is still there).

I'm planning to drive in May, we'll be cruising from New Jersey and it's an 8 hour drive. Not super fun but then we'll have time to find a place to test if we still have to at that point.

 

[Sue M]

I'd do that, the NAAT in Orlando. Even if it's positive you should still be able to drive home (though of course that possible fee thing is still there).

I'm planning to drive in May, we'll be cruising from New Jersey and it's an 8 hour drive. Not super fun but then we'll have time to find a place to test if we still have to at that point.

Can’t you still get free testing with Walgreens?

 

[hdrolfe]

Can’t you still get free testing with Walgreens?

From New Jersey? Probably, I haven't really looked at the options for getting home (keep hoping they drop requirements). I am likely going to get the Switch tests and use them onboard (we're cruising) on the last day so at least if I'm positive on the ship they may do a PCR test for us. Otherwise I'll try and find a place to do the free test between there and the border home.

 

[Sue M]

From New Jersey? Probably, I haven't really looked at the options for getting home (keep hoping they drop requirements). I am likely going to get the Switch tests and use them onboard (we're cruising) on the last day so at least if I'm positive on the ship they may do a PCR test for us. Otherwise I'll try and find a place to do the free test between there and the border home.

No not New Jersey lol. I’m on the west coast. I was thinking Walgreens in Orlando before we leave. But I’m going to research places around SeaTac to test after we land. I’d rather not have to waste a vacation day if I don’t have to.

 

[dlhdisney]

It did not take too long to get through to PHAC for answers. It is within 24 hours of your flight (not sure how that impacts border crossing but would assume within 24 hours). The only tests that will be accepted for return to Canada have to be approved by CDC (USA) so PHAC indicated? Just more confusion.

 

[Canadian Tom]

Do I need a covid test if I'm flying from Toronto to Orlando in March? Thanks

 

[hdrolfe]

No not New Jersey lol. I’m on the west coast. I was thinking Walgreens in Orlando before we leave. But I’m going to research places around SeaTac to test after we land. I’d rather not have to waste a vacation day if I don’t have to.

Ah yeah, I don't think the Walgreens test takes that long, personally I'd rather know sooner than later to start that PCR 10 days clock. I mean you either test in Florida and know before you fly or wait and get tested in Seattle. You could order the Switch tests and do that yourself, either the Antigen or the RT-Lamp (which costs more). Or do the free one in Florida. I guess I just think I'd rather get tested in Florida than have to scramble and find a place to test before driving across? Then you know in Florida so you can decide, do you fly back to SeaTac and drive across, knowing you are positive on that flight but that you don't have to show that to fly in the US, or stay in Florida for 10 days?

 

[hdrolfe]

Do I need a covid test if I'm flying from Toronto to Orlando in March? Thanks

Yes, Antigen the day before you fly according to the current US rules.

 

[TropicalDIS]

It did not take too long to get through to PHAC for answers. It is within 24 hours of your flight (not sure how that impacts border crossing but would assume within 24 hours). The only tests that will be accepted for return to Canada have to be approved by CDC (USA) so PHAC indicated? Just more confusion.

Yeah seems like more confusion. So they can't confirm that we can use the Switch antigen tests on the way back to Canada?

 

[hcortesis]

Yeah seems like more confusion. So they can't confirm that we can use the Switch antigen tests on the way back to Canada?

Yes you can. But you must test no earlier than the day before you arrive in Canada

 

[damo]

It did not take too long to get through to PHAC for answers. It is within 24 hours of your flight (not sure how that impacts border crossing but would assume within 24 hours). The only tests that will be accepted for return to Canada have to be approved by CDC (USA) so PHAC indicated? Just more confusion.

Then they need to change their news release from "the day before" to "24 hours before".

Travellers will now have the option of using a COVID-19 rapid antigen test result (taken the day prior to their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) or a molecular test result (taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) to meet pre-entry requirements.

I don't really see how 24 hours is going to work when you have an evening flight. It will turn into a day of for testing.

 

[bankr63]

Then they need to change their news release from "the day before" to "24 hours before".

Travellers will now have the option of using a COVID-19 rapid antigen test result (taken the day prior to their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) or a molecular test result (taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) to meet pre-entry requirements.

I don't really see how 24 hours is going to work when you have an evening flight. It will turn into a day of for testing.

I agree that the wording on the GOC site is confusing. The 'day prior' would also mean that 'day of' would possibly not be accepted. So if I stopped at Watertown and tested at a pharmacy just before crossing, that might not be accepted as too 'new'? It looks to me that the safest would be to test in Orlando just before starting the drive. We leave early morning Saturday and cross mid-afternoon Sunday usually.

ETA: It will be interesting to see what the site says on March 1 when the rules go into effect and the main site gets updated instead of reading the press release. Of course that is just a few days before we plan to depart

 

[spewey]

Then they need to change their news release from "the day before" to "24 hours before".

Travellers will now have the option of using a COVID-19 rapid antigen test result (taken the day prior to their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) or a molecular test result (taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) to meet pre-entry requirements.

I don't really see how 24 hours is going to work when you have an evening flight. It will turn into a day of for testing.

Yeah, they're really making a mess of this. The actual website explicitly says "day before" - probably because, as you point out, making it 24 hours becomes problematic for evening flights. But so much of the other communications have "24 hours".

It can make you dizzy - to drive to the States - no test; to fly to the States - antigen OR molecular taken the day before; to come back to Canada - molecular taken within 72 hours, changing to either molecular within 72 hours OR antigen the day before.
You really need a flowchart.

 

[Minniemoo15]

It did not take too long to get through to PHAC for answers. It is within 24 hours of your flight (not sure how that impacts border crossing but would assume within 24 hours). The only tests that will be accepted for return to Canada have to be approved by CDC (USA) so PHAC indicated? Just more confusion.

The news release said the antigen test

“must be authorized by the country in which it was purchased and must be administered by a laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth service.”

Presumably the Switch Health tests would be fine, as they are authorized for use in Canada -which is where they will be purchased before departing for travel ?

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

@Minniemoo15 That's how it reads to me, that a test bought in Canada that is approved by Canada should be fine. If not, they need to overhaul that statement on the government website. It could be that they thought of overseas travel and assumed you would have to purchase the test abroad and didn't think about how easily we can buy antigen tests and take them with us.

A cautionary note about PCR: Yes, you can take them earlier, this giving you more time and options if you test positive. But if you suspect you had Omicron and were never able to get PCR confirmed during the surge (like me), there is a chance that a PCR will come back positive months after your infection, even though you have recovered and are not contagious. That's why people with confirmed cases and doctor's note saying they're fine to travel get 180 days after their positive test to cross the border without taking more tests.
Just something to consider.