THUNDER BAY – Fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents will no longer be required to show proof of a molecular COVID-19 test when re-entering the country after trips of three days or less.
The federal government made the announcement Friday, with health authorities saying short cross-border trips don’t generally pose major COVID-19 risks.
The PCR test requirement will be dropped for eligible travellers as of Nov. 30.
The requirement will still apply to those who aren’t fully vaccinated, with the exception of people with medical exemptions and minors under the age of 12 who are accompanied by a fully vaccinated guardian.
All travellers must still enter their travel information in the ArriveCAN app, and show proof of their 72-hour travel window.
Thunder Bay’s medical officer of health, Dr. Janet DeMille, said the step makes sense for short trips. Still, she cautioned residents that spending time indoors south of the border carries risks, thanks to higher case counts and much lower vaccination rates.
“I have to say, I’m not particularly concerned if people are having a short trip just south of the border in our area and then coming back,” she said. “I realize how much of an added and costly step the PCR test is, so I appreciate that may have been a bit too much for people going to Ryden’s, for example.”
“I will say, though, it’s important that we realize Minnesota has some high rates of COVID-19. So people who travel [there] are at risk of being exposed to COVID-19. So if they’re… in an indoor gathering, maybe a restaurant, they need to realize they’re at risk of being exposed.”
