Ontario Launches Innovative Testing Program at Pearson Airport

New Free and Voluntary Pilot Program Will Support Early Detection of COVID-19

Ontario to help quickly identify and stop the spread of COVID-19 in the province.

Details were provided January 6, 2021 at Pearson airport by Premier Doug Ford, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and Solicitor General Sylvia Jones.

“With over 60,000 international passengers coming into Pearson airport every week, we can’t take any unnecessary risks,” said Premier Ford. “That’s why we’re putting in place this new pilot program to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and respond to new threats like the recent strain of the virus we’re seeing in an alarming number of countries without the same travel restrictions as the U.K. The test will be free for eligible travellers and I encourage everyone to take the test to protect yourselves and your loved ones.”

Recognizing the increased risk that inbound international travellers may pose, including the potential to spread the new UK COVID-19 variant, the government is fulfilling its commitment to quickly implement airport testing to help contain this deadly virus. Beginning today, the province, in partnership with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, will offer free and voluntary COVID-19 testing for international travellers arriving and staying in the province for at least 14 days.

“We are working closely with our industry partners to proceed on our commitment to implement testing at Pearson airport to help keep people safe and stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities,” said Minister Elliott. “This airport testing pilot will test, trace and help isolate COVID-19 cases early and is a great step forward in protecting our borders.”

Eligible travellers will be able pre-register for the program or proceed to get tested when they arrive at the airport. Those choosing to participate in the pilot will receive a free, self-collected lab-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and be supervised by a health care provider either in-person or by video as the traveller self-administers the test. Switch Health, a health service provider, will provide the monitored self-swabbing tests in a convenient and dedicated space in the airport. Switch Health has been delivering testing services in the Windsor-Leamington area and Peel Region, and can support the needed volumes and timing requirements for the testing pilot.

Test results will be reported into Ontario’s Lab Information System within 48 hours and local public health units will follow up on all positive tests. All international travellers will continue to be required to follow the federal requirement for a mandatory 14-day quarantine after arriving or returning to Canada, regardless if they have a negative or positive test.

“This pilot program is another critical element in our government’s efforts to put in place the measures needed to keep Ontarians safe from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “Introducing testing at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport will help stop the transmission of the virus and support the development of a longer-term testing strategy needed for international travel. We remain steadfast in our commitment to doing what is needed to protect the health and safety of Ontarians.”

This program is in addition to the new Government of Canada pre-departure requirement for travellers bound to Canada to demonstrate proof of negative COVID-19 results from a test taken within three days prior to departure. The province continues to work with the federal government to explore the next stage of the pilot, including a proposed modified quarantine period for participants who test negative.

With the confirmation of cases of the COVID-19 UK Variant stemming from inbound international travel, the province continues to be in constant contact with the Public Health Agency of Canada and other jurisdictions to monitor the developing situation related to the COVID-19 UK Variant and ensure coordinated, effective and shared efforts to protect and safeguard the public.

Quick Facts

  • Inbound international travellers can register to participate in the program at torontopearson.com/testing. Registration can be done in advance of arrival at the airport or upon arrival at Toronto Pearson airport.
  • Individuals requesting a COVID-19 test for outbound international travel clearance are not eligible for a publicly funded COVID-19 test in Ontario.
  • Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health strongly advises that travel out of the province should be limited to essential purposes only.
  • Ontario has completed over eight million COVID-19 tests to date, more tests than all Canadian provinces and territories combined.
  • Testing is available by appointment for those within provincial testing guidance at assessment centres, participating pharmacies and specimen collection centres. Please visit Ontario.ca/covidtest to find a testing location and for eligibility criteria to be tested.
  • As of December 26, 2020 at 12:01 a.m., a provincewide shutdown is in effect for a period of 14 days in Northern Ontario and a period of 28 days in Southern Ontario to stop the spread of COVID-19.
  • To help everyone stay safe, download the COVID Alert app. It is free to use and is available from the Apple and Google Play app stores. This app lets users know if they may have been exposed to the others who are infected with the virus.

Quotes

“Today’s announcement is the culmination of months of perseverance among scientists, health professionals, the aviation industry and our partners in federal and provincial government to make a safe industry even safer. This pilot program is another protective layer in our industry-leading Healthy Airport commitment. We look forward to continued collaboration with the federal and provincial governments, as testing is an internationally accepted risk mitigation strategy.”

– Deborah Flint
President and CEO, Greater Toronto Airports Authority

“Switch Health is proud to partner with Ontario’s public health authorities and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) to provide an Ontario-made testing solution that will contribute to the fight against COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented public health challenge and innovative approaches and technologies, like ours, are critical to an effective response. We look forward to working with our partners to bring COVID-19 testing to Canada’s busiest international airport, which will help to further protect the health and safety of Canadians.”

– Dilian Stoyanov
Chief Executive Officer, Switch Health

Additional Resources

Author: Pete Fisher

Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love

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