Join AXCS
(last update: Wedsday, February 23)
--> The Canmore Organizing Committee's very helpful notes specifically for USA skiers on how, when, why, where for your trip to Canada is still a very complete description of the travel process.
--> Make sure that you only set up your ArriveCAN account at the official government of Canada website. Setting up your ArriveCan account is free. Be aware there are fake (scam) websites that want your personal info and $.
--> The government of Canada is relaxing some travel requirements as of February 28. The most significant changes are that you can use an antigen negative test the day before border arrival and also there are looser/relaxed policies with random border arrival testing. The word AXCS has is that random testing is now very infrequent.
AXCS has gotten a couple questions related to the new easier/faster/cheaper antigen test option for safe arrival to Canada. The exact wording of the government of Canada press release (copied below) is a point of confusion even within Canadian sources.
First question is whether anytime the "day prior" mentioned in the release is sufficient for antigen testing or if the test actually has to be within 24 hours prior. The difference could matter to some USA skiers. The Canmore OC called an Alberta health hot line and that message said the antigen had to be within 24 hours of arrival to Canada. However, the government press release also infers that you can use the start time of your flights. So the best advice at this point is try to do your antigen test as late as possible or opt for a rapid PCR if that's in the cards.
The second question is easier. AXCS has been asked about what entity can do an accepted antigen test. The answer on this one is clearer in the press release. You need to use a lab, healthcare entity, or Telehealth service. You can't do it at home.
- Travellers will now have the option of using a COVID-19 rapid antigen test result (taken the day prior to their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) or a molecular test result (taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) to meet pre-entry requirements. Taking a rapid antigen test at home is not sufficient to meet the pre-entry requirement – it must be authorized by the country in which it was purchased and must be administered by a laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth service.
************
--> How to describe a "quarantine plan" on ArriveCan
What AXCS is told from the Canmore OC and from the word they have in Alberta Health circles is that your “quarantine plan” simply means that — should you have a positive test once you are in Canada — that you have a way to stay in one place until you can safely travel again (two negative tests after 5 days). For MWC skiers, that’s pretty much by default what your travel plan is anyways. We are all going to one place and staying in Canmore for an average of a week or more. So simply stating your original travel plan should match perfectly the "quarantine plan” requirement.
Because you will probably be staying with other skiers, for the purpose of the "quarantine plan" you should say that for the purpose of the "plan", you will be isolated in a separate room or unit if it proves necessary (so not staying with others).
It is also important to remember the odds in all our favor with any risk of quarantine.
1.) You cannot enter Canada or race the Worlds without being fully vaccinated.
2.) You have to take a pre-arrival test and show a negative result (effective March 1, either a PCR test 72 hours before arrival or antigen test at a clinic 24 hours before arrival).
3.) To show a positive test in Canada it would probably only happen if you were randomly selected at arrival for another test and have managed to show a positive on that random test after very recently having a negative test before travel (meaning — super unlikely). AXCS is also told these random arrival tests are really being scaled back by the Canadian government as of March 1.
************