Pearson Airport's Covid Testing: What You Need To Know

Toronto Pearson International Airport has offered COVID-19 testing to travellers and staff since as early as March 1, 2021. Testing has been mandatory for travellers arriving in Canada through Pearson Airport since July 19, 2022, though the tests are conducted off-site to reduce congestion. Vaccinated travellers to Canada do not need to present a negative COVID-19 test result, but they may be randomly tested upon arrival.

COVID-19 testing is mandatory for travellers entering Canada via Pearson Airport

COVID-19 Testing at Pearson Airport

As of July 19, 2022, COVID-19 testing is mandatory for travellers entering Canada via Pearson Airport in Mississauga. This includes both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals with partial or full vaccination status. The testing program was introduced to prevent lengthy waits and other issues at the airport, with tests conducted off-site from Pearson and at airports in Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary.

Testing Options

There are two testing options available for travellers: in-person appointments and virtual appointments for swab tests. Results from the swab tests are typically available within 12 to 24 hours, although expedited PCR tests with results in six hours were previously offered but are currently unavailable. Additionally, Pearson Airport has launched a new COVID-19 testing research program for staff and departing travellers, comparing the efficacy of rapid antigen tests against PCR tests. This program delivers results in just two hours, with participants signing up online and receiving a QR code to present at the airport.

Testing Requirements for Entry into Canada

Fully vaccinated international travellers entering Canada may be required to undergo testing before leaving the airport. All travellers, regardless of vaccination status or citizenship, must present proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within one day of travel. This test can be any type that satisfies the U.S.'s entry requirements and does not need to be a PCR test.

Future of Testing at Pearson Airport

Air Canada, WestJet, and Pearson have urged the government to end mandatory COVID-19 testing at airports, arguing that removing PCR testing from Toronto Pearson Airport would free up resources for more vulnerable populations. However, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos reaffirmed the government's commitment to mass-arrival testing to minimize the importation of COVID-19 and Omicron cases.

Rapid antigen tests are available at Pearson Airport for travellers and workers

As of March 1, 2021, Pearson Airport in Toronto launched a new COVID-19 testing research program for travellers and workers. The program, which is in collaboration with several Canadian healthcare companies, offers rapid antigen testing with results available in just two hours.

Travellers and workers at the airport can opt into a 10-week study comparing the efficacy of rapid antigen tests against PCR tests. Participants must be 5 years or older and have no COVID-19 symptoms. They will need to sign up online and reserve their spot ahead of time, receiving a QR code to present at the airport. This code will be connected to an anonymous serial number used to label the tests, with results sent directly to the participant's phone.

The rapid antigen tests cost $60 CAD, and results are available in 30 to 60 minutes. These tests are particularly useful for travellers entering the United States, as they are cheaper and faster than PCR tests, which typically take 12 to 24 hours for results, with expedited options taking six hours.

The research program is designed to improve access to testing, identifying, tracing, and isolating COVID-19 cases. It also aims to keep airport staff and their families safe and contribute to research on how rapid tests can be deployed effectively for travellers and workers.

PCR tests are also available at Pearson Airport, but results take longer

Toronto Pearson International Airport has offered COVID-19 testing for staff and travellers since March 1, 2021. The testing is part of a research program run by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) in partnership with several Canadian healthcare companies. The program compares the efficacy of rapid antigen tests against PCR tests.

To participate in the research program, travellers must be five years or older and show no COVID-19 symptoms. Participants sign up online and receive a QR code to present at the airport. This QR code is connected to an anonymous serial number used to label the tests, and results are sent directly to the participant's phone.

In addition to its research program, Pearson Airport has also conducted mandatory random COVID-19 testing for travellers arriving in Canada. These tests are conducted off-site to reduce congestion and lengthy waits at the airport.

Off-site COVID-19 testing is available near Pearson Airport in Mississauga

Travellers and workers at Pearson Airport in Mississauga can opt into a COVID-19 testing research program that delivers results in two hours. This program was launched on March 1, 2021, by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) in collaboration with several Canadian healthcare companies. The research program compares the efficacy of rapid antigen tests against PCR tests.

Participants in the program must be 5 years or older and asymptomatic. They can sign up online and reserve their spot ahead of time. A QR code, connected to an anonymous serial number, will be provided to be presented at the airport. The results of the PCR test will be sent directly to the participant's phone.

While Pearson Airport in Mississauga does not conduct on-site COVID-19 testing, mandatory random testing is required for travellers entering Canada through the airport. These off-site tests are conducted in Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary to prevent congestion and lengthy waits at the airport. The tests can be completed via in-person or virtual appointments for swab tests.

Additionally, travellers can also opt to get tested at off-site locations near the airport. Tests with video observation, such as the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card EMED At-Home Test Kit, are available for purchase online. These tests typically provide results within 30 to 60 minutes and require professional monitoring with an official lab report.

Travellers are advised to arrive early at Pearson Airport for COVID-19 testing

Travellers passing through Pearson Airport in Mississauga, Toronto, are advised to arrive early for their COVID-19 testing. The airport has previously experienced lengthy waits and other issues due to mandatory random COVID-19 testing for travellers. To prevent congestion at the airport, the tests are conducted off-site at testing centres in Mississauga, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary.

As of March 1, 2021, Pearson Airport launched a new COVID-19 testing research program for staff and travellers. The 10-week study compares the efficacy of rapid antigen tests against PCR tests. Participants must be five years or older and asymptomatic. They are required to sign up online and present a QR code at the airport. Results are delivered in two hours.

In addition to the research program, travellers can also make an appointment for a PCR test. However, results may take 12 to 24 hours, with expedited PCR tests yielding results in six hours. Alternatively, travellers can opt for a rapid antigen test, which costs $60 CAD and provides results in 30 to 60 minutes. It is important to note that the United States accepts antigen tests for entry.

Fully vaccinated international travellers may be required to undergo COVID-19 testing before leaving the airport. All travellers entering the United States by air, regardless of vaccination status or citizenship, must present proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within one day of travel. Therefore, travellers are advised to arrive early at Pearson Airport to ensure they have sufficient time for testing and to prevent delays in their travel plans.

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