Foreign air travellers entering U.S. required to get COVID test the day before

Canadians and all other foreign visitors who are flying into the U.S. are now required to get a COVID-19 test no later than the day before their departure, even if they are fully vaccinated.

The measure went into effect at 12:01 a.m. EST Monday. Travellers can do a rapid antigen test or a viral test.

Previously, the U.S. required fully vaccinated visitors who were arriving by air from Canada to get tested no more than 72 hours before departure.

Last week, U.S. President Joe Biden slashed the 72-hour testing window for fully vaccinated travellers as part of a suite of public health measures aimed at slowing the spread of the highly mutated Omicron variant.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control said the order was part of what it called “quick and targeted action to help curtail the introduction and spread of the Omicron variant into the United States.”

The new protocol will reportedly not apply to those crossing the Canada-U.S. land border. Currently, full-vaccinated travellers entering the U.S. by land must have proof of vaccination but don’t need to show a negative COVID-19 test.

Meanwhile, in Canada, Canadians, permanent residents, and fully vaccinated international travellers arriving at Canadian airports from non-U.S. destinations will be tested on arrival, or receive a test to take home.
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With files from Michael Ranger of CityNews