COVID-19 remains a public health threat. Mandatory measures are in effect provincewide.
The Alberta COVID-19 Border Testing Pilot Program is currently suspended and no longer accepting new participants. New travel requirements announced by the Government of Canada are now in effect.
Learn more about Canada’s additional restrictions on international travel.
Overview
Eligible international travellers returning to Alberta at select airport and border crossings can participate in the Alberta COVID-19 Border Testing Pilot Program to reduce the length of time they’re required to quarantine upon arrival.
- Eligible participants will be allowed to leave quarantine if they test negative for COVID-19 on their second test on day 7 or 8 (counting arrival day as day 1) and commit to following specific public health and testing measures.
- All other returning international travellers must legally quarantine for 14 days after arrival.
There is no cost to participate in the border pilot program. The pilot will run until 52,000 participants are enrolled.
Eligible locations
At this time, the pilot program is only available to international travellers arriving directly to the following locations.
The pilot program may be expanded to other locations in the future.
Eligible travellers
Foreign nationals continue to be restricted from entering Canada for optional or discretionary purposes, unless they are a family member or have an exemption.
How to participate
Conditions and restrictions
All participants must:
- submit daily symptom reports (online or by phone)
- keep a list of any close contacts for the duration of the pilot program
- if a participant tests positive, the list must be provided to public health officials
- book a second test no earlier than day 7 or 8 at a participating Shoppers Drug Mart
- not return to childcare, out of school care, schools, post-secondary institutions, and workplaces outside of your home for 14 days
- follow preventative measures throughout the 14-day period
- avoid prohibited settings during the 14-day period
- avoid contact with anyone who is considered vulnerable
- download Alberta’s mobile contact tracing app ABTraceTogether and ensure it is operating on your phone when out in public.
Flights with confirmed cases
Recent passengers on domestic and international airlines should monitor the Government of Canada’s list of flights that have confirmed COVID-19 cases and follow instructions if affected.
- Check the federal list of affected flights.
- Passengers enrolled in the border pilot who are identified as being in affected seats must monitor their symptoms for 14 days and continue to submit their daily symptom check-ins.
- If symptoms develop:
- isolate for at least 10 additional days from the beginning of symptoms or until feeling well, whichever takes longer
- take the online assessment to get tested
Restrictions for specific settings
Participants are prohibited from certain settings during the course of the pilot.
Withdrawing and enforcement
Participants can withdraw at any time but must remain in quarantine for the full 14 days even if they have tested negative.
- If COVID-19 symptoms develop, they must follow Alberta’s public health regulations and guidelines.
- If one traveler in a group withdraws from the Border Pilot Project their entire traveling party, if applicable, is also withdrawn and must quarantine.
Any participant who refuses to follow the Border Pilot Project rules will:
- be removed from the pilot project and must remain in quarantine for the remainder of the 14-day period
- cause their entire travelling party, if any, to be removed from the pilot project and all must quarantine for the remainder of the 14-day period
Examples of refusal to follow the rules include refusing to complete daily symptom check-ins, leaving quarantine or not getting a day 7 or 8 test. If a participant withdraws and refuses to return to quarantine, the police may be notified.
Exempt travellers
Travelers who are exempt from 14-day quarantine, as determined by CBSA, can participate in the program if they wish.
- Exempt travellers will be offered testing upon arrival and at day 7 or 8, on a voluntary basis.
- Exempt travellers who cross the border frequently (for example, daily or weekly) will be offered testing every 3 to 4 weeks.
- Follow-up tests can be performed at Coutts, the Calgary International Airport, or at a community pharmacy.
- Exempt travellers do not need to report daily symptoms or any of the program’s preventative measures, but must follow the restrictions and conditions set out in their original exemption as well as current provincial measures in effect.
Current program numbers
Enrollment numbers and positivity rate for the Border Pilot Program will be posted every Friday.
Preliminary update (as of February 25, 2021)*
- Non-exempt traveller participants: 50,929
Testing Results** (% of positive tests):
- 1st test at port of entry – 1.37%
- 2nd test – 0.70%
- Total – 1.05%
* The content and format of this preliminary update are subject to change. Final numbers may fluctuate as tests are completed and data updated. There have been no new participants since the border pilot was suspended on Feb. 21, 2021.
**Not all border pilot participants will receive both COVID-19 tests. Individuals who test positive in the first test and enter isolation or who withdraw from the pilot are not required to receive a second test. Children under 4 years of age are not required to be tested.
Why we’re doing it
The pilot is a first of its kind partnership with the Government and Canada and industry to reduce the length of quarantine for travellers while still protecting Albertans from COVID-19.
Safely exploring ways to resume travel is an important step in Alberta’s economic recovery. The pilot program will help us collect critical information that will ensure changes to public health measures are informed by strong scientific evidence. Strong measures will be kept in place to limit the spread of COVID-19.
- Participants will be closely monitored.
- Tests processed as part of the pilot program will not affect public testing timelines.
Contact
Connect with the International Border Testing Pilot Program:
Email: [email protected]