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You could do it at your hotel. Sending it in could be the issue. I used a drug store that was listed as a courier partner. I was lucky I passed one on my route of travel but I almost had to detour to Vancouver to mail it in.Quote:
Originally Posted by cat in january
You got a link to the courier partners?Quote:
Originally Posted by BFD
I went into Canada last Friday and was selected for a random test. I registered for my test at 6:30 that evening, although I know there were later options (of course this was Pacific time). My suggestion is that if you get selected for a random test pull over immediately and get registered and then schedule your appointment. The test itself only takes maybe ten minutes. Then hopefully there's a dropoff option somewhere close to your hotel. The whole process is certainly based around you being somewhere with internet access, unfortunately. When I went to Canada in August they did the testing right at the border.
https://www.lifelabs.com/pickup-or-d...of-collection/Quote:
Originally Posted by yeahman
I used a shoppers drug mart but it looks like any Fed Ex will do.
the quarantine issue needs a little creativity. seems just using business or hotel works.
Thanks. Nearest drop off location to Lake Louise is a FedEx box in Banff. This complicates things for sure. I could easily drop it off on my way through but that is depending on when they can schedule me for the video testing.Quote:
Originally Posted by BFD
I don't think all provinces use Life Labs, though. You should probably try to find out which lab the province you are entering uses.
like the AD mentioned all you need is internet. you can do the test in your car. I did it in the office of the business I went to.
good catch Alberta usesQuote:
Originally Posted by The AD
https://switchhealth.ca/en/individua...ts/covid-test/
process seems to be the same
So if the test somehow comes back positive, I'm going to have to quarantine 14 days in Canada? Or can I cross back into the U.S. and go home? Not clear on this, anybody know?Quote:
Originally Posted by BFD
I think as covered in this thread you are allowed to break quarantine to travel back to your home country.
If you need to travel abroad while in isolation:
You will not be able to take public transportation. You must depart using private transportation only, such as your private vehicle. You will not be able to board a flight to depart Canada. You must also comply with all regulations for the country of destination.
You must:
wear a mask
practice physical distancing at all times, where possible
avoid contact with others while in transit
remain in the vehicle
do not stay at a hotel on the way to your new destination
if you need gas, pay at the pump
if you need food, use a drive through
if you need to use a rest area, put on your mask and be mindful of physical distancing and good hygiene practices
If you are in a federal designated quarantine facility, you must get authorization from a quarantine officer to leave.
Are you going to see the ladies race?
Yes, the rules say you're allowed to leave the country (by car). The odd thing is the quarantine plan section on ArriveCAN only allows you to enter a Canadian address for your quarantine location.
That seems like common sense. Basically this is my covid era travel strategy anyway. Although I allow myself hotels.Quote:
Originally Posted by ml242
Sent from my SM-G991U1 using Tapatalk
Thanks. Not going to see the race, just going to ski because we don't have shit for snow in Montana and 8 hours north LL seems to be doing pretty well with a decent amount of terrain open. Plus Big Sky "included" an Ikon Pass with my season pass this year, so I might as well use it. This is probably my best chance to use it at a time when I can't dissuade myself by just going to Big Sky if conditions there are good.Quote:
Originally Posted by ml242
Provided you have internet connection, access to Microsoft teams, it can all happen pretty quickly. You can arrange Fed-ex pickup if a drop off isn't possible. The only other complication I see is booking a video conference with Life labs if you're getting in late and leaving early.
I used Shoppers Drug Mart, but since I used to be a Canadian resident and they have me in the Health Services BC system it was a major hassle - took about 30 minutes of standing around at the Shoppers pharmacy counter. Felt kinda dumb since I was back in the USA 10 minutes after leaving Shoppers - in the future I will definitely just arrange a FedEx pickup.Quote:
Originally Posted by BFD
Welp they tagged me for the supposedly random test today. Took two hours of waiting and fucking around to do the video call test (while pulled over on the side of the highway), find a drop box in Lethbridge, etc. Oh well at least it worked. Just made a long day longer.
All straight now. Switch Health works New Brunswick and like folks said, you need internet for an online video call. Puralator is the service. Hopefully the hotel in Cambelton will save the samples for pickup as we leave early in am.
Yep, I'd say until the random entry testing ends it would be a very good idea to plan to spend your first night in Canada somewhere close to civilization.
Has anyone not gotten the "random" test? Everyone I know IRL has.
my folks on their second trip and brother made it on his first without. the real question is why won’t covid come back harder, this is too much family time.
I suggest just getting in line for the video call and waiting. They will try to push you to call back when it's less busy. I waited almost an hour (supposedly there were 62 people ahead of me), but once you do the call/test you only need to google the nearest drop box, drive there and drop it (I snapped a photo of the act), then you are on your way. I was glad I got going early in the morning and gave myself plenty of leeway. Oh yeah waited about 45 minutes in the border line too.Quote:
Originally Posted by The AD
Wife and I went up last Friday. I got tagged for the random test and she did not. Seem like it's a fairly high percentage, though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted Striker
Clearly this random testing is just a way to fuck with people and discourage folks from going over and back now that the 72 hour rule is in play. The irrational bullshit continues.
Yep. I am now 100% down with no more testing, just allowing only vaccinated travellers at this point. And now that the stupid Omicron variant is all over the damn world, we can stop trying to keep it out now. Just get on with it already - let adults make adult decisions when it comes to travelling.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammer-Down
or just use and pay for instant tests that are almost entirely as accurate and don’t have the hassles or cost associated with them.
^^Valid point. Test everyone right at the border and quit worrying about a little accuracy.
Does/will Canada publish the number of positives found through random testing?
you don't even have to test everyone, if people are double vaxxed AND tested before hand, how many break throughs are you really expecting? there's community transmission here anyway so you're just creating a hurtle for very little reason. Do they suspect that people are giving them fake test results? It's just weird.Quote:
Originally Posted by jono
It would be kinda nice if they were worried about fake results--drop the pre-test requirement and use cheap tests.
I don't know how it is in other states, but testing is so easy in NYC it's hard to complain about. I don't get the sense it's like that everywhere though.
https://labq.com/covid-mobile-testing/
I suspect part of it is just to discourage casual travel across the border. You can get across, but you've really got to want to...
Exactly. Give it the fuk up.Quote:
Originally Posted by The AD
Just went to Canada and back this weekend. My wife and i both presented our negative covid19 tests results and it was honestly the smoothest border crossing. No random tests for either of us.
^^^ this ^^^Quote:
Originally Posted by jono
Test everyone
Other than the random test for me it was smooth sailing as well. We've got NEXUS cards but both ways we literally drove right to the border guard without needing to wait for any cars ahead of us. On the return to the U.S. the agent told us we were the first car he'd seen in 20 minutes! There was a huge line of semi trucks, though. Presumably Canadian trucks that needed to cross into the U.S. due to all the road closures in B.C.Quote:
Originally Posted by kevino
For what though? To keep COVID-19 out of the country?Quote:
Originally Posted by skuff
Test to get on a plane (tight quarters, extended period) - fine.
Test to find some asymptomatic case on a vaccinated traveler - what's the point?
Open 'er up, eh!
And yet the casual travel southbound for shopping day trips this weekend was back to pre-pandemic levels. There was a pent-up Target / Trader Joe's / Costco angst, and the opening of the border was like a flood gate.
and sob stories
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/two-week-...falo-1.5691904
I want to know if I'm infected, even if I don't have symptoms, I could be a carrier. It would crush me to find out I put someone's life at risk.Quote:
Originally Posted by paulster2626
I'd go to the testing station daily if it means I can stay in Canada and keep skiing
She should definitely have known the rules before crossing the border, but this does seem like overkill.Quote:
Originally Posted by ml242