hubbards

don’t bother trying that website, it’s broken (already)

To the person who posted the link to the article from flytrippers, that is one year old.  I’m not so sure it is still 100% true.  

1 hour ago, bookbabe said:

The Walgreens Rapid ID Now test can absolutely be used for travel.  DH and I used it to come back from Vegas yesterday.

Glad it worked for you.

In these times things don’t always work as they have in the past regarding testing.  To insure you get your results in time for travel I would only use a resource that knows it is for travel and can insure the results are ready in the time you need them.

You must seek a test for travel and not the Walgreens, CVS option which is not meant for travel purposes.  

The explanation is that the Canada Health system is under alot of stress due to Covid, thereby increasing the risk of traveling to Canada and not being able to get medical assistance if needed.

I’m curious if you offered up the info that you were on a cruise, or if they knew.  If you hadn’t said anything you wouldn’t have had to test.

2 minutes ago, Froufie said:

They were chosen to be 'randomly tested' upon their return to Canada....now at home in quarantine awaiting the results of this test!

 

Thank you.  A friend of mine in California told me her mother (96) and sister (60) went for a covid test last Monday because they were both symptomatic.  By Friday no results.  They called and were told there is no record of their test, must have gotten lost.  So they had to start all over.  I hope this is not what happened in this case.

9 hours ago, AlbertaCruisers said:

So, the below is the response I got from Switch Health.  I've asked if they can confirm when our results were received in the lab.  I will see if they respond.  Today at 6:30 would be 5 days from when we were tested.

 

Hello, we apologize for the delay in reply, we are currently experiencing a high volume of messages.  I can confirm that your tests are currently processing at the lab. Due to a surge in demand for testing across Canada, caused by the rising cases of Omicron variant of Covid-19, all jurisdictions are currently experiencing longer than normal wait times for results. Our laboratory partners are working around the clock to process results as quickly as possible. Please note that it could take 3-5 days from the time of arrival at one of our labs, to receive your results back in exceptional circumstance. We appreciate your patience while we work together to limit the spread of Covid-19.

Pardon me if I missed something earlier.  You had your test at the airport for an upcoming fight?  Wouldn’t this delay now disqualify you from flying?

For me, I don’t feel comfortable taking the risk. Too much at stake for my trip.  If someone has used them it would be nice to hear feedback.

On 10/26/2021 at 3:39 PM, Fouremco said:

Not quick, but definitely a competitive price for the PCR test.

I saw that but I’m hesitant to trust that place.  Sounds too good to be true.

It’s a cruise to Bermuda. I know Bahamas is waiving the visa.  

I know.  Maybe the prices are coming down with looser travel restrictions. 

  I just booked PharmaSave in Waterloo/St Jacobs for a RT-PCR test for $100, then there will be a 10% discount from Air Canada (so $90).  This is the cheapest I've found yet.  I was originally booked at the London Travel Clinic for $180.  PharmaSave says they get the results in about 24 -30 hours.  I need this for a Bermuda Travel Authorizations (new requirement for Bermuda).  This information was originally found on the Air Canada website.

If anyone posted this and I missed it I apologize....this morning I see that Air Canada has a discount for PCR testing at various places in multiple provinces.  I just booked PharmaSave in Waterloo/St Jacobs for a RT-PCR test for $100, then there will be a 10% discount from Air Canada (so $90).  This is the cheapest I've found yet.  I was originally booked at the London Travel Clinic for $180.  PharmaSave says they get the results in about 24 -30 hours.  I need this for a Bermuda Travel Authorizations (new requirement for Bermuda).  This information was originally found on the Air Canada website.

If you go on the WHO website that outlines approved vaccines, it provides the answer to the mystery.

11 hours ago, lots-of-km2 said:

 

 

Globe and Mail -- Oct 4, 2021

ADRIAN WYLD/THE CANADIAN PRESS

 

The Public Health Agency of Canada says it’s working with other governments still dubious about allowing Canadians with mixed vaccines to travel across their borders without quarantining.

Several countries, including the United States, only recognize people with two identical doses of an approved vaccine as being fully vaccinated.

 

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, says PHAC has presented data on the effectiveness of mixed doses to the U.S. and other top-priority destinations.

 

She says Canada has been particularly active in spreading information about the effectiveness of mixing Oxford-AstraZeneca with mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

 

Many countries don’t have domestically generated data on that front, so Canada is working to help them make decisions about their own tourist regulations.

 

The federal government is expected to release more details about a standardized vaccine passport for Canadians in the coming weeks.

Yeah, we’ve heard this same talking point for 6 months.

2 hours ago, lots-of-km2 said:

 

The AZ vaccine is now called Vaxzevria. Sounds itchy. 

 

Saddled with this and the need to issue vaccine passports, Doug Ford's head is gonna explode. 

My head is going to explode.  I’m sick of this crap by the Canadian health experts.

On 8/25/2021 at 7:57 AM, Evilmuffin said:

 

This is so crazy.   Can’t mix, too much time between doses, not enough time between doses, etc, etc… next thing will be it had to be in your left arm only.   LOL

Seriously, how are we supposed to trust the people in charge?  They don’t really give a crap about the consequences of their decisions.  They just don’t want us to travel, end of story.

On 9/8/2021 at 7:53 AM, nbsjcruiser said:

and why not hand out third shots at this point? There will be thousands of viles of vaccine that will end up in the garbage because they expire. At the very least, put them to good use. Provinces could advertise that those with mixed doses can register for a third dose and get one from a soon to expire vile. A "While supplies last" sort of thing.

 

To add another wrinkle into this argument. Fauci was interviewed on CNN and said its very likely that a third dose will be needed soon to be considered fully vaccinated. Look out then. All this mixed dosage nonsense will start all over again. "Oh, you need to have 3 doses of an mRNA, you have 1 AZ + 2 mRNA, we dont recognize mixed doses".

Fauci has changed his mind more than one changes their underwear.  I no longer have respect for that man.

6 minutes ago, lots-of-km2 said:

Forgot to add -- I haven't yet seen any evidence (in law, policy or otherwise)  that the US-Canadian and the US-Mexico border are compelled to be treated the same way by the Americans.  Canada and Mexico are different places with different issues. 

Precisely, it’s political.  Not everyone can afford to buy a airplane ticket and spend upwards of $200 per covid test to leave and return to cross the border by air.  I drove across the border a few weeks ago to see my 91 year old mother in NJ.  I was across in 2 minutes into the US as they do not require a Covid test to cross into the US.

6 minutes ago, lots-of-km2 said:

 

As shifty as both Washington and Ottawa are (Washington more so), I don't (yet) see any of this as a game. We're in the middle of a fluid, volatile public health crisis.

 

Is there anything in US policy or law that requires it to treat its borders with Canada and Mexico equitably?   

 

 

In my research I can find no legal reason to keep both borders closed.  The Southern US border is a friggin mess with illegals pouring across that border.  The Customs and Border security are overwhelmed with this (Biden admin) made problem.  Literally hundreds of thousands of people are illegally crossing the border.  I know it’s not covered much in Canada but it is happening 24/7 daily.  If they open the border to Mexico it will exacerbate the problem down there.  Yes, it is my opinion, and the opinion of others, that Canada is being held hostage to the situation on the Southern border, otherwise it makes no sense.

8 hours ago, broberts said:

 

I have not seen anything that suggests the US has decided to treat the southern and northern borders the same with respect to covid. Has the Whitehouse actually made a statement to that effect or is this just random speculation?

Made a statement?  They would never say it out loud.

As an American citizen who lives in Canada, this makes me livid.  It is all political b.s.  The White House is playing politics with this because they don’t want to open the Southern Border (to legal crossings) so they have to fake a reason to keep the Northern Border closed.  Those of us who are fully vaccinated are just pawns in the game of the White House and Ottawa.

On 8/31/2021 at 9:23 AM, tert333 said:

Some people who went against the recommendation of NACI and waited for the same dose are very smug now and have no empathy for the people who followed the recommendations.  Some provinces have rectified their mistake(ie. Quecbec, Saskatchewan and Alberta).  I think that Ontario will follow at some point, but who knows when.

 

 

I got two AZ shots, not wanting to mix.  Speed ahead to now.  Will Canada give people like me another AZ shot?  I doubt it.  Looks like I will be forced to get mixed when I didn’t want that in the first place. It never ends. I’m sick of this crap.