New PCR Test Exemption For Border Travel For Some B.C. Residents

The Canadian Border Providers Company introduced that there can be particular exemptions in place for some residents of B.C. on quick journeys throughout the U.S. border. So long as the journey is not more than 24 hours, eligible British Columbians is not going to be required to indicate proof of a detrimental PCR check.

The announcement comes simply lower than per week since Canada’s Minister of Well being, Jean-Yves Duclos, introduced the reintroduction of Canada’s requirement for a detrimental PCR Covid check even for journeys of lower than 72 hours throughout the border to the USA.

The press release states that: “Given the continued state of affairs in British Columbia, sure totally vaccinated B.C. residents is not going to must take a pre-entry Covid-19 molecular check earlier than coming again to Canada.”

To be eligible for the exemption residents should qualify in two methods:

• they have to be residents of B.C. who must journey to the U.S. by land to entry or buy items or providers, and
• they will solely be absent from Canada for not more than 24 hours.

The exemption additionally applies to unvaccinated kids beneath 12 years of age coming into with certainly one of their totally vaccinated dad and mom, step-parents, guardians or tutors and an individual with a contraindication to vaccination.

“Travellers ought to guarantee they’re solely throughout the U.S. for the required interval to entry or buy items and providers and return to Canada as quickly as potential, with none pointless stops. Those that attend social visits, occasions or capabilities would subsequently not be exempt from the pre-arrival testing requirement. Travellers also needs to proceed to comply with all native, provincial/territorial and public well being steering together with masking in public, and sustaining social distancing.”

The choice to permit eligible residents of B.C. to not be required to get a detrimental PCR check is in response to the devastating floods that hit the province onerous in mid-November. The floods washed out quite a few highways and severely restricted provide chains, making it troublesome for residents to entry requirements.

“The Authorities of Canada understands the numerous injury and upheaval that has been attributable to the flooding state of affairs in B.C. Ought to a border providers officer decide that the traveller entered the U.S. and doesn’t meet the exemption necessities upon their return to Canada, travellers can be referred to Public Well being Company of Canada officers who will assess subsequent steps and decide the suitable public well being measures the traveller should comply with”.

“Those that cross the border to make sure that important providers and financial provide chains proceed, together with truck drivers, stay exempted from the pre-entry check, quarantine and in-Canada check, however should proceed to submit their obligatory info in ArriveCAN earlier than arriving in Canada.”

Except for this particular exemption for some residents of B.C., all travellers should take a pre-entry Covid-19 molecular check earlier than arriving in Canada, whatever the period of their journey. Moreover, the press launch notes that:

• Assessments taken in-Canada will not be accepted. In different phrases, the pre-entry check have to be carried out in a rustic aside from Canada inside 72 hours of arrival on the land border or inside 72 hours of a scheduled flight departure.
• Travellers should both have a detrimental pre-entry Covid-19 molecular check outcome taken not more than 72 hours earlier than arriving in Canada or a earlier optimistic check outcome taken between 14 and 180 days earlier than departure to Canada.
• Antigen checks, usually known as “fast checks” aren’t accepted.

All travellers should proceed to submit their obligatory info in ArriveCAN. The Authorities of Canada continues to advise all Canadians to keep away from non-essential journey outdoors of Canada right now. “Now shouldn’t be the time to journey,” states the press launch.