Canada Border Testing Program: Test result data: COVID-19

Total tests is the number of arrival and post-entry tests taken by international travellers as part of the CBTP. It’s not the same as the total number of travellers tested, because some travellers were tested more than once. It’s also different from the total number of conclusive (positive or negative) test results.

Total positive test results is the number of positive arrival and post-entry test results among international travellers tested as part of the CBTP. This is different from the number of international travellers who tested positive as part of the CBTP, as some travellers tested positive on more than one occasion.

For the percentage of COVID-19 test results that were positive over time, please refer to Figures 1 and 2.

Weekly percentage of COVID-19 tests that were positive among international travellers entering Canada between February 22 and July 4, 2021, by mode of travel

• From February 22 to July 4, 2021, all travellers, regardless of vaccination status, had to take:
  • a pre-entry test (this data not included in Figure 1)
  • an arrival test, and
  • a post-entry test, on either Day-10 (February 22 to April 22, 2021) or Day-8 (April 23 to July 4, 2021) of their mandatory quarantine.
• The week of entry is based on the date the traveller entered Canada. These are grouped into 7-day periods (Sunday to Saturday), except for the week of June 27 to July 4, 2021 (see above).
• The weekly percentage of COVID-19 tests that were positive is the number of positive arrival and post-entry test results for that week divided by the sum of the number of positive plus the number of negative arrival and post-entry test results for that same week. The result is then multiplied by 100 to get a percentage.

Weekly percentage of COVID-19 tests that were positive among international travellers entering Canada between July 5, 2021 and September 30, 2022, by vaccination status and mode of travel

• The CBTP ended on September 30, 2022. Labs were required to send all available border test results to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) by end of day on September 30, 2022. However, some samples collected during the weeks leading up to September 30 may not have been processed by labs in time to meet this deadline. Test positivity for the final 2 weeks of September should be interpreted with this understanding.
• Each shaded box represents a distinct phase, or time period. We retroactively defined these phases to capture key changes to border testing requirements over time, particularly where these may have had an impact on test positivity. See the Timeline for the testing requirements in place during each phase of the CBTP.
• The week of entry is based on the date the traveller entered Canada. Weeks are grouped into 7-day periods (Sunday to Saturday), unless otherwise indicated with an asterisk (*).
• The weekly percentage of COVID-19 tests that were positive is the number of positive arrival and post-entry test results for that week divided by the sum of the number of positive plus the number of negative arrival and post-entry test results for that same week. The result is then multiplied by 100 to get a percentage.

Partially/unvaccinated travellers

• From July 5, 2021 to September 30, 2022, the data include arrival and post-entry (Day-8) test results from all partially/unvaccinated travellers required to take both tests.
• From February 28 to September 30, 2022, the data also include arrival test results from partially/unvaccinated children aged 5 to 11 travelling with a fully vaccinated adult. These children only had to complete an arrival test if randomly selected for testing.

Fully vaccinated travellers

• From July 5, 2021 to June 10, 2022, the data include arrival test results from all fully vaccinated travellers, whether or not they were enrolled in mandatory random testing (MRT).
• From June 11 to September 30, 2022, the data only include arrival test results from fully vaccinated travellers who were enrolled in MRT.
• From June 11 to July 18, 2022, MRT was temporarily paused for fully vaccinated travellers arriving by air. As a result, Figure 2 contains a line break from June 11 to July 18, 2022, for the “Air” mode of travel. MRT continued at the land border during this time.