Test timing

Yes I did read the official rules. But the question is this: our flight requires an overnight stay in Toronto and if we do the antigen test a night before - it will be more than 24 hours time frame that the EAHS requires…. Our flight leaves at 11am Feb 23 and arrives in Toronto at 5pm and then the next flight to sxm is on the next day February 24 leaving at 10am…. We will be doing the antigen test on the 22nd at 7pm, that’s the latest time slot available. We won’t have time to do it in Toronto.

I'm not sure I understand the question, but the timeframes on the EHAS website refer to when your flight that is non-stop to SXM, without any layovers, so the timeframe is from when your flight from Toronto leaves. An antigen test is only good for 24 hours, so the latest you could take an antigen test is February 23 at 10 AM. PCR test would be February 22 at 10 AM.

Thanks Carol, that is exactly what I was asking. I was reading the ehas and it says that it has to be 24 hours before departure but there is nothing about what exact departure they are talking about- the actual departure point or the direct flight departure point…
We are gonna be in a pickle here…. If we do the antigen test at home town- it will expire before we get to board the direct flight to sxm from Toronto….
If we do the PCR test at home town- the results can take 24-48 hours before we get them and EHAS requires 48 hours before departure…. So we are pooped again!
Carol, are you 100% sure that the time frame the ehas refers to is for the direct flights only and not the actual time of the start of the trip?

I am sure that it refers to the last flight, yes. I don't know about where you are, but here we can get a PCR test with almost immediate results, say 15 minutes or so. Often you have to pay a decent amount of money to get it, but to me, that is your only option, to get a PCR test that you can get an almost immediate result from.

I am in Edmonton, Alberta. The results for the PCR test can take 24-48 hours and the lab site says that they can’t guarantee it either…. So no 15 minutes for us, lol! It is only the antigen test that they can do in 15-20 minutes here….

If you are fully vaccinated and have your booster shot, then you don't need a test to enter SXM. Problem solved.

You need to be fully vaccinated to board a plane in Canada, and booster shots have been available now for at least two months to most of the population. Is there a reason you are unable to get your booster shot at least 14 days prior to departure? Or am I somehow missing something?

There is a rapid PCR test that was created Abbott Labs and it is the ID Now test. This test can give results in as little as 20 minutes and will give you the 48 hour window for EHAS approval. Below is a 20 page list of testers for the Edmonton and greater Alberta area. There are testers listed doing the IDNow test. You can cull the list and maybe find someone local.



Edmonton Covid testing



Can I ask, are you vaccinated and boosted, if so, than no test is required.

Hope this helps.

I would hazard a guess that because of the question asked I would assume he/they are not fully vaxed

All 3 of us double vacced. Wife and daughter had Covid for Xmas, I was the one looking after them and didn’t get sick so no booster for me, and there is no point in booster for my girls either…

Well, A test is required by all of you. I hope the list helps. If I can offer more help, than reach out to me directly and I will respond promptly.

Booster shots are free and you can apply to EHAS three days before arrival, we did this recently and it was far less stressful than testing first then applying to EHAS.
However if you want to get tested you could get an antigen test from Switch Health in Toronto, they are near the airport and open from 4AM to 11PM. Antigen test is $60 with results in 30 minutes. You would then just have to wait for entry approval from EHAS which is usually fairly quick.

Boosters are out of question for me and my family, enough of this junk. But thank you very much for the info regarding the Swtch health at YYZ airport, I think that’s exactly what we gonna do! Do you know if I have to sign up ahead of time or just walk in and get tested?

Time for booster for them has expired for their arrival date. Has to be boosted before 14 days of arrival.

Looks like you need to book a time, there is a number to call though. I think the one you want is on Viscount road near the airport hotels. We were lucky to fly in late December before the new requirements. We were boosted but not 14 days. Good luck, it’s worth it. Biggest PITA is the test at YYZ when we returned, they can’t seem to figure out how to get a test result in less than 3 days while in SXM same test takes 6 hours so 3 days in quarantine was fun.😡

Thanks again Canuck54, I was able to call them and talked to the lady who answered the phone. She said that there is no need for an appointment, just walk in and in 30 min you will get the results. That should be perfect for us. And they guarantee negative results too! Just kidding :-))

KGB--Glad you were able to get it figured out.

My apologies- I forgot to thank you for your list of the labs and your offer to help. I greatly appreciate your offer! Thank you very much again!
TTOL is a great group of people, always been and always gonna be!
Cheers to everybody! 10 days and counting!!!