Me and @thesgem spent the weekend @startrektour to visit beautiful replica sets of the USS Enterprise circa 1966 and to wish @WilliamShatner a 90th #HappyBirthday. This was non-essential travel to the US for <60 hours. Here is my #Covid_19 thread FYI /1
@TheSGEM bought the tickets months ago when we fully expected to travel w/o restrictions. Sadly, #Covid_19 and the #DeltaVariant meant US/Canada border restrictions remain in place. What follows is what we had to do be able to go and how it went. /2
Cross border travel by land is more challenging but not impossible, so air travel was option 1. Our destination was Ticonderoga in Eastern NY State. The closest intl airport is Burlington VT. Toronto-Burlington flight options are few and involve weird stops in DC or Detroit. /3
Driving across the border was more do-able than we were led to believe. But @TheSGEM was able to get us a ride Buffalo Intl Airport in a private float plane across Lake Ontario. Clear day and the Falls were beautiful. /4
Per Homeland Security we brought proof of #CovidVaccine x 2 + negative PCR test in past 3 calendar days. FYI US accepts rapid test (Canada does not). At private terminal in Buffalo: met by 2 US Customs agents who looked at our passports but did NOT check vax/covid tests! /5
To re-enter Canada, downloaded ArriveCanada app. To get quarantine exemption you need proof of 2xvax + neg covid test in last 72 h. Note this: I thought a neg test in Canada would suffice if < 72 h but Canada says test MUST be done in US. This makes no clinical sense! /6
Found test site near Buffalo airport. Need PCR for Canada - rapid test NOT accepted. Results emailed in 24 h. $150 US. On return border crossing, taken by limo no problem. Complete Arrive Canada info & upload vax receipt. Bring hard copy or photo of -ve US PCR test. /7
You do a #COIVD19 swab at border. Exemption from quarantine conditional based on swab results. To do the swab you must open switchhealth.ca acct. (web NO app). Do this BEFORE you arrive at border b/c no wifi & cell phone coverage at border is POOR. /8
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