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

[KNovacovschi]

We have them too and I actually don't mine because we'll do the RT LAMP tests 72 hours before (assuming that's still the rule) and then if negative you have peace of mind for the rest of your trip (versus stressing up until 24 hours before). So I don't mind that -- at least it's a silver lining for the (now) additional cost.

That’s a good way to look at it.

 

[Minniemoo15]

Anyone ordered the Switch antigens with express shipping? How fast do you truly get it?

I ordered regular shipping and had them in 2 days. We are in Nb and things are usually so slow so I was impressed.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Looking forward to seeing if Orlando service providers pivot and offer more, easier, and/or cheaper rapid antigen tests now. Hope there are updates to first page's helpful information once Canadian travelers get more experience in March under the new rules.

 

[Ty666666]

COVID Tests in Orlando are super easy!!!
Booked multiple tests, Walgreens, curative Osceola and red bug. Booked 2 days before the test and there were plenty of spots. Didn't end up doing the Walgreen test, I opted for the 2 hr RT PCR tests at Osceola and red bug. The testing RV is parked in a parking lot, you park your car and walk up to the registration, they'll scan your QR code that you get when you book. Osceola didn't ask for ID, red bug asked for ID's only for us the parents and none for the kids. They'll give you a tube with liquid in it and a swab for each person. The tubes don't have any names on them just numbers so make sure you don't get them mixed up otherwise the results will get mixed too. I find that the supervision of the testing is a joke as they don't look at you or care how you're doing the test. You could be inserting the swab in your ears or even not inserting the swab in your nose at all and they wouldn't know. You put the swab in the liquid for 5 seconds then discard the swab and give them back the tube. Results come in under an hour between 30 and 45 min, you'll receive a text with a link to the result. You can book multiple tests with curative at different locations if need be.

 

[mamaofsix]

Trying to figure out the details for the new rules. The press release says Rapid Antigen Test "24 hours before travel." Does this mean at least 24 hours, 24 hours or less, day before, day of? Kinda confused. We will be driving home, so trying to figure out if we can just go test right before getting to the border, or if we have to stop somewhere halfway home and test the day before?

 

[hcortesis]

Trying to figure out the details for the new rules. The press release says Rapid Antigen Test "24 hours before travel." Does this mean at least 24 hours, 24 hours or less, day before, day of? Kinda confused. We will be driving home, so trying to figure out if we can just go test right before getting to the border, or if we have to stop somewhere halfway home and test the day before?

It is the day before. Not measured in hours.

 

[KCMA]

Trying to figure out the details for the new rules. The press release says Rapid Antigen Test "24 hours before travel." Does this mean at least 24 hours, 24 hours or less, day before, day of? Kinda confused. We will be driving home, so trying to figure out if we can just go test right before getting to the border, or if we have to stop somewhere halfway home and test the day before?

we are in the same boat… from what I was told either in this thread or one of the others it’s the day before and the example I was given was that: say you plan to cross the border Tuesday you could test anytime Monday

 

[KNovacovschi]

Trying to figure out the details for the new rules. The press release says Rapid Antigen Test "24 hours before travel." Does this mean at least 24 hours, 24 hours or less, day before, day of? Kinda confused. We will be driving home, so trying to figure out if we can just go test right before getting to the border, or if we have to stop somewhere halfway home and test the day before?

From what I heard and read it’s like the 72 hr rule, 24 hrs before your departure time or time you are crossing the land border, so if your flight is at 2pm on Saturday the earliest would be 2pm on Friday.

 

[mamaofsix]

From what I heard and read it’s like the 72 hr rule, 24 hrs before your departure time or time you are crossing the land border, so if your flight is at 2pm on Saturday the earliest would be 2pm on Friday.

So it's 24 hours or less? Like in the above scenario, could you test at 8am on the Saturday?

 

[KNovacovschi]

So it's 24 hours or less? Like in the above scenario, could you test at 8am on the Saturday?

Absolutely, it just has to be in that timeframe and not longer then 24 hrs unless doing a NAAT/PCR/LAMP test as those are still at 72 hrs.

 

[mamaofsix]

we are in the same boat… from what I was told either in this thread or one of the others it’s the day before and the example I was given was that: say you plan to cross the border Tuesday you could test anytime Monday

But you can't test on the Tuesday? Trying to figure out if we could literally stop somewhere right before the border crossing and test an hour before we cross...

 

[KNovacovschi]

But you can't test on the Tuesday? Trying to figure out if we could literally stop somewhere right before the border crossing and test an hour before we cross...

Yes you can because it’s within the 24 hr timeframe. They don’t care how close it is to the time you cross just as long as it’s not longer then 24 hrs for rapid or 72 hrs for PCR. It just has to be 24 hrs/72 hrs from the time you plan to cross.

 

[KCMA]

But you can't test on the Tuesday? Trying to figure out if we could literally stop somewhere right before the border crossing and test an hour before we cross...

From my understanding yes you could test on the Tuesday as well… so anytime on the Monday or Tuesday in this example …. We plan to test in Florida before we start the drive home and if one of us were to test positive we would do another test in Buffalo or Niagara Falls before we cross or anywhere in between really

 

[mamaofsix]

Yes you can because it’s within the 24 hr timeframe. They don’t care how close it is to the time you cross just as long as it’s not longer then 24 hrs for rapid or 72 hrs for PCR. It just has to be 24 hrs/72 hrs from the time you plan to cross.

Okay, thank you! Testing just before crossing seems like the least stressful option for us.

 

[hdrolfe]

The press release states "day before" for the antigen test, so not it's not 24 hours. Unlike the PCR test which states 72 hours, and not 3 days. Bolding is mine. There is a difference in the way it's worded. Regardless of what any news site is saying, I'd go to the source material. And note it says taken the day prior, not "no more than", take that as you will.

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-hea...t-of-transition-of-the-pandemic-response.html

• 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. Taking a rapid antigen test at home is not sufficient to meet the pre-entry requirement – it must be authorized by the country in which it was purchased and must be administered by a laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth service.

 

[mamaofsix]

Also wondering - for those who've experienced it - did you need to show a printed off test result on paper? Or was a screen shot on your phone enough?

We have friends who drove back last week and the border guard insisted they needed a printed off version and they couldn't show results from their phone. They had to turn around and find somewhere to print them off. Anyone else had this experience?

 

[spewey]

This is just a reminder for important details like time frames - NEVER go by what you hear on the news, from a friend, or in a press release. Go straight to the actual official government website.
In this case, as noted above, it clearly states "day before", not 24 hours.

 

[damo]

Also wondering - for those who've experienced it - did you need to show a printed off test result on paper? Or was a screen shot on your phone enough?

We have friends who drove back last week and the border guard insisted they needed a printed off version and they couldn't show results from their phone. They had to turn around and find somewhere to print them off. Anyone else had this experience?

So stupid. This is what the government website says...

When you arrive at the border, you must present an accepted negative molecular test result (paper or electronic proof) or proof of a previous positive molecular test result taken at least 10 calendar days and no more than 180 calendar days before entering Canada. Counting starts the day after your test.

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/t...ovid-19-testing-travellers-coming-into-canada

 

[iceprincesskcl]

Silly question but I gathered from the switch health website that their rapid antigen can only be used to go INTO the states not as a test to return to canada?

 

[Etch]

Silly question but I gathered from the switch health website that their rapid antigen can only be used to go INTO the states not as a test to return to canada?

They may not have updated their website yet as that is the current situation.

Per the government announcement yesterday, you'll be able to use the switch rapid antigen tests to return to Canada as of Feb.28th.