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Voluntary COVID-19 Testing to Start at Pearson International

Wednesday, 6 January 2021 at 13:12

Over 31 international flights with COVID-19 on board have landed in Toronto in the last 2 weeks.

ONTARIO - The Province of Ontario is launching a new voluntary border testing pilot program at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Premier Doug Ford says travellers will be able to get tested as soon as they hit the ground. 

"With over 60,000 international passengers coming into Pearson airport every week, we can't take any unnecessary risks. 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."

Ford did call on the Federal Government to do more.

"We have made terrible sacrifices here at home, the people are doing what is necessary to protect our communities, but all the while, COVID-19 has been getting into our borders from outside Canada. Since September over 1,300 flights in Canada have had potential COVID-19 exposure. In fact over 31 international flights with COVID-19 have landed in Toronto in the past 2 weeks alone, since I last called for tighter restrictions at our borders." 

Ford says protecting borders remains Federal jurisdiction, we here in Ontario are ready to do our part. 

Eligible travellers will be able pre-register for the program or proceed to get tested when they arrive at the airport. 

You can listen to Ford's opening comments from his first press conference in weeks below: 

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