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Posts: 922
| I don't think this has been discussed in the other border threads ...
The rules state a negative test (not rapid) within 72 hours of crossing the border.
I am crossing in a few weeks and want to plan ahead. I am looking back right now at a test result I had from October. It's from Vault which is the provided Minnesota uses for all their saliva testing.
There is no time stamp on it. It says the date of the test is 10/26/20 and the date of the result is 10/27/20.
So when does the clock start ticking? I assume it's 72 hours from the date of test which would've been 10/26/20. So does that mean I could've crossed on the 27th, 28th, or 29th and be ok? Because technically sometime on the 29th the test would've actually been over 72 hours old.
Without a time stamp, there's no way to actually verify the 72 hours, just 3 days?
I've heard of people literally almost not being able to board flights because they were on the verge of expiring tests.
I'm a super anal accountant and this is bothering me because I want to know exactly how this works.
Any insight or real world experiences would be helpful.
Thanks - Midge
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Posts: 37
| You need a pcr test within 72 hours of your departure if flying and I assume within 72 hours of your border crossing. you also need to fill out an arriveCAN app and have proof that you are fully vaccinated. I got the rapid pcr test within 48 hours of my departure.
Also, if you're flying you need an antigen test within 72 hours of your departure. My friends drove and they did not have to have an updated antigen test to reenter the US. |
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Posts: 922
| Thanks for the response muskyhawk, but that doesn't help if you read my question.
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Location: oswego, il | I am at a clinic waiting to get tested right now. I am roughly 60 hours out from the border crossing. While waiting a buddy of mine told me a mutual friend was just turned away at the border because his test was longer than 72 hours. I do not know by how much, I will inquire. |
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Posts: 922
| Thanks Todd.
This is my point. How do they calculate 72 hours when the test isn't time stamped? It's only date stamped.
I want to see how it would actually work on a calendar.
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Posts: 230
| Find another provider for your test. Make sure you get your test from a provider that time stamps the date as well as the time the test was taken. Pretty simple way to reduce your anxiety.
Edited by Abu7000 8/23/2021 12:35 PM
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| Yah, I get it Abu7000.
I wasn't sure if other providers time stamped or not. The largest outfit the state of MN uses apparently doesn't, unless that's changed since I last did it.
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Posts: 61
Location: Cottage Grove, WI | Walgreens provides a time stamp. I got their rapid NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) and got results back in two hours. The trick is to find a Walgreens capable of doing in house testing. Forward Pharmacy got me my results back in 22 hrs. I did try testing about a week out from when I needed it so I could get an understanding of what my time constraints would be. |
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Posts: 33
| I crossed super easy with a drive through test at Walgreens. Took my test Wednesday at 4pm and crossed ~7pm on Friday no issues. Sign up on Walgreens site for a rapid diagnostic test (ID NOW), tests locally fill up quick I think they schedule ~3 days out so keep checking until you can get on the schedule. Drive through, they give you a swab at the window, 5 turns each side of your nose and send back. Done this twice now and waited no longer than 2hrs for results. When you get the email download the lab results PDF. That will show your result along with the test type (NAAT). Your name, date/time collected and date/time reported back to you.
Between myself, parents, wife, extended family we've used 6 different Walgreens locations, paid nothing and had all folks cross with success.
At the border I came prepared with our negative test reports printed, a quarantine plan printed, ArriveCAN app submitted, vaccination card, and of course passports. The agent asked for our negative test reports and passports, asked the standard questions and we went on our way.
Edited by AaronTicknor 8/23/2021 3:45 PM
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Posts: 922
| Thanks Aaron. I wasn't aware that Walgreens had the rapid test that wasn't antigen. I have the ability to take a rapid PCR close to home, but it costs $195.
Tell me more about your quarantine plan. I know they can do a random test at the border. I think it's very interesting that they would actually want to keep you in Canada to quarantine. You would think they would just turn you around and send you home.
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Posts: 33
| Here is the plan verbatim. We have property in NW Ontario, traveled through Fort Francis. I've heard a lot of camps are providing these for their guests as well.
Contingency Plan Quarantine Letter
Our property is in a remote area, with a 5K driveway. We have 1 hours and 1 cabin on our property. In the event someone gets sick or tests positive for COVID 19 they will self-isolate in the cabin for their quarantine period of 14 days. Our only neighbor (named), will help us contact free if we need anything during those 14 days (neighbor phone number)
We will call the Northwest Health Unit at 807-226-9626 for instructions if we get sick.
(Property address)
One thing I might add, two of our extended family needed to take a test upon arrival. That system appears to be messy for a lot of reasons. Best I can say if you get picked there is hope you don't get picked. |
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Posts: 922
| Thanks Aaron, I will reach out to our resort and see if they have a plan in place that they are providing to guests.
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Location: oswego, il | Mine is time stamped. That's the first thing I checked when they gave me the paperwork. I also was given two extra documents one with more info on the clinic and the test. Another has a clinical summary. Overkill but I took it.
It's also fun watching your fishing partner get that q-tip run way up his nose. |
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Posts: 497
Location: Northern Illinois | I also took the Walgreens drive-through test. Very easy. One thing the Canadian border patrol officer said was the lab report which is provided by the facility that verifies the Walgreens test is preferred. It has the time stamp, type of test, and physician on the report. It wasn't absolutely necessary but preferred. I had the lab report as well as the results summary with me.
Edited by RLSea 8/23/2021 8:50 PM
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Posts: 230
| Pre-Arrival Covid Testing Option in Baudette
Thrifty White Pharmacy, located at 111 N Main Ave in Baudette, is doing pre-arrival covid testing with results within 30 mins of swab time.
Testing is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm and is by walk-in only.
This will be a great back-up option for anyone traveling during the week that is concerned about getting rest results back in time before their 72 hour window closes.
Cost is $75 per test.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/126185504207582/?multi_permalinks=19...
Attachments
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 111111111111111111111111111111111.docx (119KB - 287 downloads)
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Posts: 101
| If you keep the appt confirmation of when you took your test, maybe that would work as a timestamp as well? Just thinking out loud, but sounds like there's some better options than that here, but as a last resort might work. |
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Posts: 922
| Being as anal as I am, I will probably end up doing 3 different tests at 3 different places to make sure one of the three works! LOL
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Location: oswego, il | One thing I noticed on the ArrivCan app is it asks where you will quarantine for 14 days. They should update this now that people can cross for less time. You are forced to say yes to a 14 day quarantine. |
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Location: oswego, il | Another.oddity. my partner did his ArriveCan information yesterday and he has a countdown timer on his confirmation. I did mine today and I do not have that timer but I do have a successful confirmation. |
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Posts: 922
| I tried to get the ArriveCan app all filled out, but it told me to come back within 3 days of my departure. Hello? I would like to fill out what I can in case there's an issue I am not under the gun.
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Posts: 113
| Does anyone have an example of the quarantine plan from a resort by chance? I would like to see what is says. Thank you in advance! |
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Location: oswego, il | Muskyfreak44 - 8/24/2021 10:52 PM
Does anyone have an example of the quarantine plan from a resort by chance? I would like to see what is says. Thank you in advance!
It's just a very simple letter stating there is a quarantine location and address. About a paragraph long. I literally got it yesterday and printing it out this morning. |
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Posts: 33
| We built our personal plan off a public camp. Here is their plan:
Quarantine Plan
I am fully vaccinated and tested negative for Covid prior to crossing border. During my trip I will naturally be social distancing as we are in a rural area, in our own cabin. However, in the event that I get Covid, I will quarantine for 14 days based on the following:
Camp address
They will provide a cabin that is reserved for self-isolation.
In the event that I need medical treatment, I will go home into the United States, and will not stop anywhere between quarantine cabin and the border, and will wear a mask at border, and while in close proximity to anyone else.
Camp name and phone number for confirmation.
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Posts: 922
| Thanks Aaron. This leads me to a question I don't think has been addressed/answered. If you happen to pop a positive test on a random test at the border I would assume they just turn you around to go back to the US.
Or do we know that this is what this quarantine plan is actually for if you test positive. I have a hard time believing that if you test positive at the border they are going to let you continue on to a resort?
Let me know if anyone actually has an answer on what happens with a positive test at the border.
Thanks - Midge |
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Posts: 33
| Two minors in our group they wanted to test, handed their parents two kits and said take the test with virtual nurse and send in. Very long story and leaving out a lot of details, but you know the service situation in NW Ontario, we couldn't connect virtually. No drop off location for the prepaid postage company that transport tests from out east. Overall, a mess. You won't get a test at the border - least at FF anyway.
So in my mind the plan is for if you take the test, mail it in, actually get the results while you are there. The company that handles the tests said it would take 1.5 weeks to get a new test to the kids, back to the lab, and results to us.
Edited by AaronTicknor 8/25/2021 12:21 PM
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| AaronTicknor - 8/25/2021 9:43 AM
We built our personal plan off a public camp. Here is their plan:
Quarantine Plan
I am fully vaccinated and tested negative for Covid prior to crossing border. During my trip I will naturally be social distancing as we are in a rural area, in our own cabin. However, in the event that I get Covid, I will quarantine for 14 days based on the following:
Camp address
They will provide a cabin that is reserved for self-isolation.
In the event that I need medical treatment, I will go home into the United States, and will not stop anywhere between quarantine cabin and the border, and will wear a mask at border, and while in close proximity to anyone else.
Camp name and phone number for confirmation.
what if you're not going to be there for 14 days or more? do you still have to put 14 days for quarantine time?
Edited by Dave T. 8/25/2021 1:56 PM
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Location: Storm Lake, IA | AaronTicknor - 8/25/2021 9:43 AM
We built our personal plan off a public camp. Here is their plan:
Quarantine Plan
I am fully vaccinated and tested negative for Covid prior to crossing border. During my trip I will naturally be social distancing as we are in a rural area, in our own cabin. However, in the event that I get Covid, I will quarantine for 14 days based on the following:
Camp address
They will provide a cabin that is reserved for self-isolation.
In the event that I need medical treatment, I will go home into the United States, and will not stop anywhere between quarantine cabin and the border, and will wear a mask at border, and while in close proximity to anyone else.
Camp name and phone number for confirmation.
Where did you have to write this plan? I'm about through the arrive can app and all I needed was an address to quarantine. |
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Posts: 33
| I can't say for certain, was only there for 8 days. Figured if I tested positive a few extra days at the cabin wouldn't be the worst place to be.
Literally wrote the plan in word and had it printed. They only asked for our negative tests and thinking everything else came through via the app.
Edited by AaronTicknor 8/25/2021 5:28 PM
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Location: oswego, il | I crossed at pigeon river this evening. We had our masks on they did not ask us to remove them. They asked for our passports and only them first. They asked some basic questions then wanted our covid test. That's it didn't ask for the vaccination card or ask if we were. Didn't ask where we were staying or ask for the quarantine plan.
Edited by ToddM 8/25/2021 9:58 PM
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| ToddM - 8/25/2021 9:57 PM
I crossed at pigeon river this evening. We had our masks on they did not ask us to remove them. They asked for our passports and only them first. They asked some basic questions then wanted our covid test. That's it didn't ask for the vaccination card or ask if we were. Didn't ask where we were staying or ask for the quarantine plan.
oh wow, i didnt even realize there was a crossing at that location!
do you mind if i ask where you are going fishing?? Havent heard of anyone going in that direction to fish skis' before..  |
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Location: oswego, il | Dave T. - 8/26/2021 8:13 AM
ToddM - 8/25/2021 9:57 PM
I crossed at pigeon river this evening. We had our masks on they did not ask us to remove them. They asked for our passports and only them first. They asked some basic questions then wanted our covid test. That's it didn't ask for the vaccination card or ask if we were. Didn't ask where we were staying or ask for the quarantine plan.
oh wow, i didnt even realize there was a crossing at that location!
do you mind if i ask where you are going fishing?? Havent heard of anyone going in that direction to fish skis' before.. : )
Savant lake. No skis but big pike Lakers and walleye. I was a replacement for someone who backed out. Beautiful and the people who owned it as it turns out owned a resort I used to stay at in Boulder Junction. Helen Keller could go out by herself and catch walleye. Just not sure she would make it back to the resort. |
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Posts: 512
| ToddM - 8/28/2021 9:20 PM
Dave T. - 8/26/2021 8:13 AM
ToddM - 8/25/2021 9:57 PM
I crossed at pigeon river this evening. We had our masks on they did not ask us to remove them. They asked for our passports and only them first. They asked some basic questions then wanted our covid test. That's it didn't ask for the vaccination card or ask if we were. Didn't ask where we were staying or ask for the quarantine plan.
oh wow, i didnt even realize there was a crossing at that location!
do you mind if i ask where you are going fishing?? Havent heard of anyone going in that direction to fish skis' before.. : )
Savant lake. No skis but big pike Lakers and walleye. I was a replacement for someone who backed out. Beautiful and the people who owned it as it turns out owned a resort I used to stay at in Boulder Junction. Helen Keller could go out by herself and catch walleye. Just not sure she would make it back to the resort.
ah thank ya sir. i just was wondering.. big pike are fun to catch too! always looking for new places to try as well.. we are heading to LOTW Sat, so fingers crossed all goes well! |
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Posts: 567
| So a nasal swab test is acceptable - Correct ? And I didnt know they were randomly testing people even if you had your negative result within 72 in your possession .. I'm crossing at I Falls , near a 20 hour drive , and NO I dont trust the testing process at all.. I thought a negative result before I headed north kinda guaranteed me not getting turned away at the border because of a covid issue . Had a friend say they passing out blue colored test kits to every other car about 11-12 days ago . |
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Location: Northern Illinois | Hmm. That would have been Aug 18-19. We went through Aug 13 at International Falls with no such issue. We were 6th in line and it took about 5 minutes per vehicle or less. |
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Location: Oconomowoc, WI | ManitouDan,If you have proof of vaccination, negative PCR within 72 hours and passport you’ll get in. The random testing is handed to you and done after crossing. arrangements are made for pick up or drop off of sample. This could lead to a quarantine in Canada with a positive but by that point you’re in, and I don’t believe anyone can prevent you from re-entering the US. Hope that s helps
Andy |
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Location: oswego, il | Coming back into the US was the same as before. |
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Posts: 356
| Crossed again yesterday.4 rigs in front of me and took 20-25 minutes total.Have your passport,vaccine record,recent test and,to be safe,your ArrivCan permit number ready to hand to the agent and likely done in 5 minutes or less. Wear a mask and a smile.A tad of politeness goes a long way. |
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Posts: 567
| A negative nasal swab test is PCR right ? Even google was confusing with no straight answer
Edited by ManitouDan 9/3/2021 9:13 AM
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Posts: 922
| Manitou - you're best off asking or readying the actual kind of test from the provider you are getting it from. Don't assume anything. |
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Location: oswego, il | Once in Canada wear a mask at any place you go into. Everyone is still wearing a mask indoors. We went into a grocery store in Ignace, we had masks on but the cashier asked that we use the hand sanitizer at the entrance before entering. Going into Canada the border agent did not ask us to remove our masks for ID but coming back the US agent did. |
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Posts: 512
| just a heads up, i just filled out our arriveCan app, and got all the way through it and everything worked as it should, but my wife says, 'my last name isnt spelled correctly!' sure enough, it was not. i figured i entered it incorrectly, but turns out the app takes a picture of your passport and it automatically uploads all the information, and it misspelled my wifes last name! it did it again when i cancelled our first try, and resubmitted. so keep an eye out for that if you do the passport picture, make sure all info is correct!! |
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Posts: 37
Location: MN | Two weeks ago I went up through Warroad and drove to Youngs Bay. Had all documentation and no issues....The guard spent more time looking for weeds on my trailer than at my documents. Coming back a week later the group in front of me got turned back at Youngs Bay while on the phone with Canada trying to get permission to come back through....Sounded like they did not fill out the App for the return trip. The rest of us each spent 40 minutes on the phone with Canada getting a "waiver" to cross back to Warroad since we did not have a new test to return. I got a pretty stern lecture that I may not be granted another waiver If I tried to cross back with out a test next time.... The lodge had previously said no problem getting back to Warroad and to just get the waiver....But the warning from the agent has me a little concerned for my October trip back there.... There were some rumors that several lodges up there had test kits on hand but I could not find any place that had them.... Has anyone crossed back from the angle more than one time and not been given the waiver? Also just FYI, CVS did my entry test and had results emailed to me in 20 hours.... |
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Posts: 113
| Went in and came back in International Falls/Ft Francis last week and was the best crossing we had in 30 years. Going in was a 20 min wait but the guard was awesome and had a great conversation with us. He looked at our passports, vaccine cards and COVID test results. Asked us the basic questions and had a good conversation about his overall experience with COVID and the craziness of opening day on the 9th. He welcomed us to Canada and wished us a successful trip…….Olesen was his last name, really a great guy. Coming home, only car at the border…..pulled right up to the booth. Female officer was equally pleasant and asked us the basic questions. Had a few quick jokes with us and welcomed us home. I didn’t catch her name but I wish I had. Overall a great experience…….the buildup, uncertainty and just not knowing what to expect was the most stressful part. The reality was, it was no big deal when you follow the steps. My dad got his PB on top of everything so that was icing on the cake…..a fat, healthy 52” beauty! |
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Posts: 76
| I crossed the border Wednesday with two grandsons 10 and 8. We all got tested with reserved testing times at Walgreens. Actually two different Walgreens as we were not able to test the same days. Had our results in less then 2 hours. We had all of our information necessary for crossing with minors. 15 minutes with a very polite border agent and we were given test boxes for the boys and told to log onto a website to register the boys then wait for a virtual nurse to walk us through the test on video chat.
Then it got stupid. Could not complete the registration because they ask for a government issued photo ID. We had birth certificates so couldn’t complete the registration properly and got kicked out. Made a call and he said to answer yes to the question. I asked him to complete it and he agreed.
Now video conference with a virtual nurse. She was getting paid by the hour because she meticulously slow. After the test on each boy which required 15, yes 15 seconds of swabbing in each nostril, on children!!! Told us to place the test back in the box and seal it, then place it in the sealed bag and told to drop them in the drop box. Well the address for the drop box is now in the sealed bag? So she tries to look up the address. 10 minutes later she says she couldn’t find a city called Port Francis. You are a Canadian resident and you’ve never heard of FORT Francis? Then she can’t find the drop box address so asks me to open the sealed bag to retrieve the address. So I now had an altered “sealed” bag and then dropped off in a drop box, a metal box at Uhaul, outside and not secure! You can’t make this up. It took 2 and 1/2 hours to complete this whole process!
Low and behold we got our results today 5 days later and we are already back in the states. Of course negative as they were at Walgreens less the 24 hours earlier.
So if you are taking minors into Canada you might want to contact them ahead of time to have logged all of your information into the website.
Canada has a new division, it’s called the Ministry of Stupidity! |
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| Just crossed a week ago with no issues but saw others being turned back also. If you have everything they ask for it is pretty straight forward. The BIG NO NO is having an antigen (not accepted) test vs a PCR test which is one they accept.
Virtually everyone we saw turned back was for this reason...except the guy who "forgot:" he had a handgun in the vehicle. Come to think of it they invited him to stay a while. |
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Posts: 922
| We made it through yesterday in Baudette. No other vehicles ahead of us. No issues.
Asked the normal questions. Had to provide vax card, passport, and test results. We did the rapid “diagnostic” test from Walgreens. ID now it’s called. NAAT Test. No issues.
The longest part of the crossing was having to go in and pay duty on all of our extra booze |
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Posts: 922
| By the way my test results from Walgreens in Blaine took only 26 minutes. |
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Posts: 567
| Are they random testing people in I Falls ? I've been told 2 things about the " blue boxes" that they were doing random confirmation test at the border and that those were actually for testing on the way back into the states if one desires to be tested then . Needless to say both cant be true . |
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Posts: 101
| They are. I got one when I went in late August. They give you a box, you call in and do it over vid appt, and have it scheduled to be picked up.
Not sure what the end goal really is of it though. I was in Sioux Narrows, took the test on the Saturday I arrived, was picked up on Tuesday, and I got the results when I was back in the States on Saturday. So if it's intended to quarantine an infected traveler, not really helping there, but might in a more populated area where the turnaround would be quicker. I wondered if it's more to just track data to see how many positives there are based off current requirements to cross. So like a validation check of policy to see if it's working or something.
Whatever. No harm done. |
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Posts: 275
| Just checking
Is the Walgreens rapid PCR test okay to use? |
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Posts: 512
| the rapid diagnostic test (ID NOW) is the one we used.. not the rapid antigen test.
results back within 24 hours it says, we got ours back in about 2.. |
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Posts: 275
| How much are they charging for the rapid PCR test to cross the border? |
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Posts: 922
| It was free at Walgreens. They didn’t even ask for my insurance info. |
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Posts: 716
| They are doing rapids tests in I Falls FYI so if you have the wrong one you can rectify the issue there. The are doing some random re-testing at that station. A guy in camp got selected for a re-test and was told they have a mandate at that location to do a minimum of 13 re-tests on crossers with positive results a day by the Canadian border service. |
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