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People are being turned away at the Canadian border if they have not had a recent Covid test, even if they have proof of vaccination. It is not something that not all people are being told even if they try to find out ahead of time about getting into Canada. It’s an Ontario mandate, not a Canadian federation mandate.
Here’s what two fully vaccinated former Cook County residents ran into last week when they tried to enter Canada and found they needed a one-day COVID-19 test for verification.
“Grand Portage (Sawtooth Mountain Clinic in Grand Portage) wasn’t able to do testing early last week. The hospital is the only place in Cook County testing for COVID-19, and they have a limit of 10 “travel” tests per day on a first-come, first-served basis. Last Tuesday, August 31, all of their testing was filled up for the day by 8:15 a.m., and on Wednesday, September 1, they started using tests that take two or more days for results. This means that a lot of travelers, such as fishermen, are going to be turned away at the border and will have to go at least all the way back to Duluth to get tested before being able to cross the border.
“I think it’s ridiculous that Cook County is not up to speed on testing people, especially because it is a border county and because travelers are being turned away at the border. Certain places in Duluth, such as Walgreens, are doing testing, but on Tuesday (Aug 31), the Walgreens stores throughout the entire Duluth/Cloquet area that do the most accurate quick test (there are several different kinds – a “molecular” test is considered the better quick test) were all filled up with appointments for the next two days. The state is doing testing at the DECC in Duluth. It also requires people to sign up ahead of time but there are a lot of appointments available.”
North Shore Health COVID-19 testing
North Shore Health recently announced that as of September 1, 2021, they will no longer provide same day COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic people who are traveling to Canada and other Countries who require testing prior to entry.
“Due to increasing volume of COVID-19 clinical testing and increasing difficulty in obtaining testing supplies, COVID-19 travel testing will be sent to a reference lab,” wrote North Shore Health Adminstrator/CEO Kimber Wraalstad in a news release. “The test performed by the reference lab is a SARS-CoV-2 RNA, RT-PCR. As a result, it is anticipated results will typically be available 36 to 48 hours after specimen collection, however this is not guaranteed. Testing will continue to be offered Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, on a first come first serve basis. Prior appointments are not taken. Also beginning on September 1, the registration time will be from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. for testing at 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. subject to availability. Registration will occur in the lobby of North Shore Health, the entrance facing 5th street/County Road 7. Testing will be limited to approximately 10 people per day.”
Details regarding the collection process at North Shore Health will be provided after registration.
During registration, individuals will be provided with assistance to sign up on the NSH patient portal. When results are received, they are immediately available on the portal. Under no circumstances will results be provided over the phone.
Jennifer Backstrom, Administrative Laboratory Director commented “NSH will continue to monitor availability of testing supplies and the demand of clinical testing to determine if changes to COVID-19 travel testing can be made.”
No changes are being made for symptomatic COVID-19 testing or testing for contact tracing. Individuals with symptoms are encouraged to call Sawtooth Mountain Clinic at 218-387-2330 to be scheduled for testing as appropriate.
Motorists who want to cross the border into Canada need to show that they have been fully vaccinated and also have been tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours, although there are some exemptions for children under 12.
When you do get to the border you should have your vaccination and test result documents uploaded alongside a filled-out digital visitor application in the arriveCAN smartphone app or website to help border officials determine if you are eligible to enter Canada.
Filling out false information isn’t a good idea and could result in a fine of $750,000 (Canadian), the equivalent of $600,000 U.S. Or you could receive six months in prison if you fill out false information.
Meanwhile the Biden administration announced it was extending limited nonessential travel at the Canadian and Mexico land and ferry borders until September 21. The reason given by the Department of Homeland Security was that this was an effort to minimize the spread of the delta variant.
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