As of February 21, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. ET, travellers arriving by air will be required to reserve and stay in a government authorized hotel for up to three nights, at their own cost, while they await the results of the COVID-19 molecular test they took on arrival, before completing the rest of their mandatory 14-day quarantine period.
International arriving passengers require COVID-19 testing upon arrival at Toronto Pearson
Effective February 21, 2021 at 11:59 p.m., in addition to other entry requirements, the Government of Canada requires all international arriving passengers to take a molecular COVID-19 test upon entry into the country and again later in their quarantine. The program is another layer of protection to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
At Toronto Pearson, mandatory arrivals testing is available at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, administered by Switch Health.
Passengers requiring testing upon arrival at Toronto Pearson
Travellers exempt from testing:
Children who are four (4) years of age and younger
International travellers arriving in Toronto via a domestic flight (e.g. Hong Kong-Vancouver-Toronto), will have tested at their original point of entry into Canada and do not need to test again
Any travellers who present with symptoms of COVID-19 on arrival will be directed to a federal designated quarantine facility or other suitable quarantine location.
International travellers arriving at Toronto Pearson without symptoms will take their molecular COVID-19 test at the airport.
Before leaving the airport, travellers will be provided with a COVID-19 test kit or instructions for taking their test later during their mandatory 14-day quarantine period.
Any traveller who refuses to take a COVID-19 test on arrival at the airport may be subject to a fine of up to $3,000, enforced through the Public Health Agency of Canada.
After taking the arrival test at the airport, travellers, unless exempt, will proceed to their Government- Authorized Accommodation (GAA) or hotel for their mandatory stay. Travellers who have their own car at the airport can drive themselves to their government-authorized accommodation. Those who do not have their own vehicle will take transportation provided by the hotel.
Any traveller who refuses to go to their GAA may be subject to a fine of up to $3,000, enforced through the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Following the mandatory hotel stay travellers will still have to complete the remainder of the mandatory 14-day quarantine at a suitable place of quarantine.
Questions and answers
The basics
As of February 21, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. ET, air travellers, unless exempted, will be required to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival in Canada, while at the airport; and later during their mandatory quarantine period in either a designated quarantine facility or at a suitable place of quarantine.
All international arriving passengers are required by the Government of Canada to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival as well as toward the end of their 14-day quarantine. There are only a limited number of exceptions where an individual is not required to do post-border testing.
No. Travellers coming to Canada must follow the Government of Canada requirement to take a COVID-19 test in your last point of departure to Canada, within 3 days prior to your departure date and show a negative test result before boarding your plane.
No, all travellers must still complete an ArriveCAN submission, as required by the Government of Canada. As of November 21, 2020, international travellers are required to use the ArriveCAN app to submit a quarantine plan and contact info before departing for Canada.
No. Passengers must complete a 14-day quarantine as required by the Government of Canada.
The passenger experience
Yes. Advance registration is strongly encouraged as it avoids the general registration queue at the airport and can be done online or on your personal mobile device. Passengers who do not register in advance can also sign-up when they arrive at Toronto Pearson.
Step 1: Register with Switch Health
Step 2: Complete your test at the airport, and receive your take-home test for later in your quarantine
Step 3: Proceed to your pre-booked mandatory hotel and wait for your test results
Terminal 1, Level 1, adjacent to the Goodlife Gym. Follow the blue and yellow “Arrivals COVID-19 Testing” signage after collecting your bags.
Terminal 3, Arrivals Level, adjacent to Baggage Hall exit point. Follow the blue and yellow “COVID-19 Testing” signage after collecting your bags.
The federal government has listed these hotels on their website, where you can book your stay.
Travellers are not charged for their arrivals test at Toronto Pearson, but there is a cost associated with the required booking of a government authorized hotel where you wait until receiving your test results. The federal government has listed these hotels on their website, where you can get a quote and book your stay.
Switch Health will notify you with a text message or email (chosen at the time of testing) once your results are ready to review. Once notified, log on to Switch Health’s patient portal to view your result. You will be able to view, download and print your result via ASMO. If you have questions or concerns, please email Switch Health at results@switchhealth.ca.
Test results should be available within 48 hours through the Switch Health platform, ASMO. You will get a notification from Switch Health through your pre-selected preferred mode of communication that you chose during the registration process (i.e. text, email). If you have questions or concerns, please email Switch Health at results@switchhealth.ca.
Travellers who receive a positive result from the test they took on arrival will move to a federal designated quarantine facility or other suitable location to isolate for the remainder of the 14–day quarantine period.
The test/The science
Switch Health will be conducting the testing at Toronto Pearson. They are a mobile testing vendor and have the capacity to provide the volumes and meet the timing of the testing that is required for the Government of Canada’s testing requirements, plus offer supervision by a health care provider either in-person or by video as the traveller takes the test.
Yes. This program is being implemented by the Government of Canada.
Switch Health use bilateral anterior swabs or nasopharyngeal swabs on a standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing machine. Both tests and equipment are approved by Health Canada. On arrival COVID-19 testing in Toronto Pearson International Airport will be self-administered with the oversight of a registered healthcare worker, trained in specimen collection and handling, and infection prevention. Switch Health’s on-site and telehealth nursing staff will provide step-by-step guidance on self-collection to ensure accuracy of results.
A bilateral anterior swab goes 1-1.5cm into the nasal cavity, the nurse, or the patient, swirls the swab for 15 seconds and then performs the same procedure on the second nasal cavity. This is a less invasive swab and is preferred by many. We request all patients blow their nose immediately prior to the bilateral anterior swab.
A nasopharyngeal swab performed by a nurse will be slightly more sensitive than a bilateral anterior swab performed individually. We request all patients blow their nose prior to their bilateral swab as this increases the accuracy of the results.
Contact
For any other questions related to testing, please email Switch Health at support@switchhealth.ca.