Ottawa facing mounting pressure to drop all COVID-19 testing for fully vaccinated travellers

Two infectious diseases physicians have joined forces with the travel industry to call for an end to Canada's pre and post-arrival COVID-19 testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers.

Over the past several months, members of the beleaguered travel industry have repeatedly lobbied Ottawa to relax its travel restrictions. 

At a news conference held at Toronto's Pearson International Airport on Thursday, Dr. Dominik Mertz and Dr. Zain Chagla — along with the Tourism Industry Association of Canada — argued that Canada's testing requirements for travellers are pointless, because Omicron has already spread across the country. 

"The risk for the average traveller coming in is in the same ballpark as if you were testing a random person in downtown Toronto. It's not going to make a difference," said Mertz, an infectious diseases specialist with McMaster University in Hamilton.

The latest call to drop Canada's testing requirements comes as several provinces have relaxed COVID-19 restrictions and a growing number of Canadians are making international travel plans.

The federal government said it's reviewing its border measures, but has yet to make any changes.

"Even fully vaccinated individuals can still become infected with the virus that causes COVID-19," said Public Health Agency spokesperson Tammy Jarbeau in an email. "For this reason, it is important to continue taking precautions by testing travellers both prior to entry and on arrival."

Under Canada's current rules, travellers entering the country must show proof of a negative molecular test (such as a PCR test) taken within 72 hours of their departing flight or planned arrival at the land border. Travellers have to pay for the test, which can cost hundreds of dollars. 

The government is also spending millions of dollars to randomly test thousands of vaccinated travellers daily upon arrival. 

At the news conference, Chagla argued the money spent on tests by both the government and individuals is a wasted expense. 

"There is something to be said about the cost here, both for the individuals but [also] for the public for testing that may not … be preventing a lot of people from spreading COVID-19 locally," said Chagla, an associate professor at McMaster University.

Jeannette Smith of Porters Lake, N.S., feels the $300 US she spent on two PCR tests to return to Canada was a waste of money. Smith and her husband drove to Fairfax, Va., in December to visit their daughter. 

The couple paid for expedited PCR tests in Fairfax. The results were supposed to arrive within two days, but, due to high demand, they didn't arrive in time.

Smith said the couple decided to cross the border anyway, because a snow storm was coming and they feared it would lead to highway closures.