Few people taking advantage of Point Roberts COVID test exemption at border
Posted February 2, 2022 8:41 am.
Last Updated February 2, 2022 10:19 pm.
It turns out you can drive to some parts of the U.S. without needing a COVID-19 test, but few in B.C.’s Lower Mainland are taking advantage of the exemption.
The community of Point Roberts, WA, just south of Delta, was one of three U.S. areas to be granted a rare exemption to the COVID-19 travel rules by the federal government at the end of 2021.
But while it has been allowed for months, the Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce president Brian Calder says it’s been frustrating that not many people seem to know about it.
“You can come in if you are a Canadian citizen to Point Roberts right now. Pick up a parcel, get gas, go to the marketplace, go to the marina, whatever. And you can go back within half an hour, an hour, a day, a week, a month,” Calder said.
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“They have to be double vaxxed, they have to fill out the ArriveCAN application with the federal government of Canada, and they may be given a rapid test on a random basis,” Calder said.
He says one of the issues is that the rules don’t seem to be clear enough for people to feel confident in crossing without facing a quarantine or pushback from a border guard.
“People are confusing the allowance that the Canadian government [placed] for the flooding in the Sumas,” he explained about the previous exemption, which expired on Monday for those affected by November’s flooding.
“Point Roberts on the other hand was given an Order in Council, specifically for us and our border at the Boundary Bay to be allowed [to have] Canadians come in,” he said.
The Order in Council was introduced in November and officially proclaimed in December, but months later, few seem to be taking advantage of it as the border crossing remains quiet and few long line ups have been reported.
Afternoon trip to #PointRoberts:
✅ Gas ⛽️
✅ Parcel ????
✅ Snacks ????Business as usual for the border town, thanks to exemption 18, omitting the negative test requirement for eligible travellers. Residents pleased, now just need word to get out.
???????????????????????? @CityNewsVAN #Washington pic.twitter.com/MuLO5oeuTF— Riley Phillips (@Rileythedj) December 24, 2021
“We have a special allowance thankfully recognized by the Canadian federal government and we want the Canadians to use it and… [to] open up our economy again,” Calder said.
He says Canadians own 75 per cent of the property in Point Roberts. The community relies heavily on Canada for its economy.
A screen grab of the Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce’s website urging Canadians to come visit without the need for a PCR test.
Calder says Point Roberts has been devastated by the pandemic as it doesn’t have access to its surrounding communities like Vancouver and Surrey do.
“We have three sides water, the 49th parallel, and our business comes through Delta, British Columbia, and our economy comes through Delta.”
