November 10 - Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he wants to use rapid COVID-19 testing to reduce the 14-day quarantine for travellers – and he’s prepared to look at implementing it on a provincial level, despite the fact that airports are a federal jurisdiction, if the federal government won’t help out.

 

At a media Q&A session today in Woodbridge, ON, Ford was asked about the Canada-U.S. border, currently closed until at least November 21, with some saying they won’t be surprised if the closure extends into early 2021.

 

Ford said he hadn’t had any discussions with the federal government, with either the Prime Minister or the Deputy Prime Minister, about the border in the past couple of weeks.

 

“What I want to do, I want to start getting people tested as they’re coming off , rather than isolate for 14 days,” said Ford.

 

“Let’s get them tested immediately when they come off the plane, and test them again five or six days later, and that will reduce the isolation,” he added.

 

“But I need the federal government’s help. And if they don’t want to do it, we’ll go it alone, even though it’s not our jurisdiction. We will put people at the two largest airports, in Toronto and in Ottawa … I know there are many other crossings that the vehicles go across but it’s better than not having anyone at the airports.”

 

Ford added: “I really would like their support and I would like to action this as soon as possible.”

 

Calgary Airport's Rapid Testing Pilot Project

On October 23 Calgary International Airport and the Alberta government announced they were embarking on a COVID-19 rapid testing pilot project with an eye to reducing the 14-day quarantine, in partnership with the federal government.

 

With YYC’s rapid testing project, now underway, as long as passengers get a negative result within 48 hours, they just have to go back for a re-test in 6 – 7 days. Canadian travellers returning from international destinations can follow the same protocol with the voluntary tests, but cannot travel outside Alberta for 14 days.

 

At that time Ford said he would be keeping “a really sharp eye” on the project.

 

 

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