Covid-19

21 Oct 2021 admin

Everything You Need to Know about COVID-19 Testing before You Travel

The Canadian federal government announced that as of October 30, 2021, all travellers boarding a plane, train, or marine vessel need to prove they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. To qualify as being fully vaccinated, a person must have received a full series of a Health Canada-approved COVID-19 vaccine. The last dose must have been administered at least 14 days prior to the day of travel. In addition to being full vaccinated, travellers may need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to travelling back into Canada. Here’s what you need to know about COVID-19 testing.

Beware of Scam Testing

Not all COVID-19 tests are created equal. A number of companies have marketed fraudulent test kits that claim to test for COVID-19 at home. Health Canada has not approved any home tests that claim to diagnose, prevent, and treat COVID-19. There are COVID-19 saliva tests that you can take from the comfort of your own home, but the tests must be opened and performed in front of an approved healthcare professional with video supervision. The sample is then shipped to an approved lab and the results are emailed within 48 hours after the sample has been received by the lab.

Documentation Required before Boarding Flights

To depart from a Canadian airport, travel by rail, or board a cruise ship, travellers need to qualify as fully vaccinated travellers. In addition to government-issued identification, like a drivers license or passport, travellers need to provide proof of a COVID-19 test result depending on the requirements of their final destination. All travellers must provide one of the accepted types of tests indicated by the health regulating authority of their final destination. For Canadians travelling back into Canada, they must take a test within 72 hours (three days) of the scheduled departure time of their flight into Canada. If the test is more than 72 hours old when you re-enter Canada, you will need to get a new pre-entry molecular test. It’s also important that travellers keep proof of the test results for 14 days after they enter Canada. Children under the age of five do not need to provide a pre-entry test result.

MD Connected – Canadian Healthcare Made Simple

If you’re thinking of travelling domestically or internationally, it’s imperative that you are fully vaccinated. If you’d like to book a COVID-19 test for travel in Toronto, contact the medical professionals at MD Connected. The virtual health care professionals at MD Connected can direct you to the nearest COVID-19 test centre. Whether you’re travelling, attending an event, or require workplace screening, simply book a COVID-19 in-clinic test appointment with one of our clinical team members and receive a medical certificate with results. MD Connected provides more than COVID-19 tests. We provide virtual care and telemedicine clinics across Canada—simply pick the service that’s right for you. Our virtual healthcare doctors in Toronto will provide you with an end-to-end experience through diagnosis, assessment, treatment plan, notes and forms. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians have used MD Connected for general consultations, prescription renewal, sexual health, mental wellness, travel health, and sick notes and forms. To learn more about MD Connected, contact us by visiting www.mdconnected.ca or e-mail us at mydoc@mdconnected.ca.