Response to Canada Random Testing Selection if 90 day COVID Recovered

[DS12522]

I posted this as a reply in another thread but I wanted to be sure I got this out there:

Specific information 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".

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

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.

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

 

[ssgtravel]

What I don't understand is how you do all this if you are already on the cruise? We won't have cell service on the ship. Also, did you need to access their system to upload something or fill out a form?

 

[DS12522]

To be clear, my post is specific to folks "randomly" selected for testing who fall under this 90 day COVID recovered scenario - not folks just selected for testing under other scenarios.

The reason I wanted to get this out was so that folks could have a number to proactively call while they were still at the airport and not have to mess with this any further... Once you dial that number, the robot voice asks a series of questions like your birthdate, the date of your positive test, the date you arrived in Vancouver... so it asks for dates and yes/no questions which are easily entered using your phone keypad.

In our situation, we flew into Vancouver Friday and were in Victoria on Sunday when I noticed the Spam Calls and figured out they were from the COVID CANADA crew. So we called from the tour bus in Victoria. Note that you will have some cell as you leave Vancouver. You will likely have cell service in Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan (and occasionally in other random places). You can deal with any follow up by cell from one of those port calls. All US cruisers should call their cell company to understand their coverage in Canada.

Bonus tip for you: If you want a smoother boarding process, in the ArriveCan app add an Arrive Marine entry for your return (to be clear, the Monday you finally dock in VCR to get off the ship). Creating this entry is reasonably self explanatory in the ArriveCan app. The address you return to in Canada is mandatory and we were instructed to just use the address for Canada place which is "999 Canada Place". You are arriving FROM the United States (from Alaska). This was never mentioned that I saw in any of the "before you board" prep stuff they gave you but they will absolutely check for your ArriveCan Marine code on your phone before you can proceed to the first step of check in... there are folks there who will assist you... but frankly, it was something we could have EASILY done before hand with a simple email guide... but for some reason they didn't do it.

 

[dcassetta]

Bonus tip for you: If you want a smoother boarding process, in the ArriveCan app add an Arrive Marine entry for your return (to be clear, the Monday you finally dock in VCR to get off the ship). Creating this entry is reasonably self explanatory in the ArriveCan app. The address you return to in Canada is mandatory and we were instructed to just use the address for Canada place which is "999 Canada Place". You are arriving FROM the United States (from Alaska). This was never mentioned that I saw in any of the "before you board" prep stuff they gave you but they will absolutely check for your ArriveCan Marine code on your phone before you can proceed to the first step of check in... there are folks there who will assist you... but frankly, it was something we could have EASILY done before hand with a simple email guide... but for some reason they didn't do it.

In June, when pre-board testing for all was still required, they had handouts at the testing center waiting room about doing ArriveCan. Since that is no longer required for most guests, it should be added to the DCL pre-board info on the webpage.

 

[ssgtravel]

Thank you. This is helpful since we will have some of our party with 90 day recovered certificates. So, you add the Arrive Marine code at the time you are filling out the ArriveCan form PRIOR to when you arrive in Canada for the first time?

 

[dcassetta]

Thank you. This is helpful since we will have some of our party with 90 day recovered certificates. So, you add the Arrive Marine code at the time you are filling out the ArriveCan form PRIOR to when you arrive in Canada for the first time?

No, you will do the first ArriveCan to actually arrive in Canada. You will do the second one before the ship departs.

 

[ssgtravel]

One last question. Did you actually have to upload the certificate to the web site, or did you just have to verbally provide the information on the phone to them?