Canada has resumed random COVID tests for fully vaccinated international arrivals.

Tests will take place outside of airports, either at testing provider locations, pharmacies or by a virtual appointment for a self-swab test.

Visitors selected for mandatory testing will receive an email within 15 minutes of completing their customs declaration.

The email will contain information to help them arrange their test with a testing provider in their region.

If they test positive, they must go into isolation for 10 days.

The Government of Canada had paused the mandatory random tests on 11 June due to complaints of delays at airports. It said the pause was part of a broader strategy to transition testing for air travellers outside of airports.

“Moving testing outside of airports will support testing for travellers arriving by air while still being able to monitor and quickly respond to new variants of concern, or changes to the epidemiological situation,” it said.

“Mandatory random testing continues at land border points of entry, with no changes.

“Border testing is an important tool in Canada’s detection and surveillance of COVID-19 and has been essential in helping us slow the spread of the virus.

“Data from the testing program are used to understand the current level and trends of importation of COVID-19 into Canada. In addition, these data have and continue to inform the Government of Canada’s safe easing of border measures.”