The federal government is easing some of its testing and quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travelers.

As of Feb. 28, negative results from rapid antigen tests taken no more than 24 hours prior to departure will be accepted from fully vaccinated travelers arriving in Canada. That will replace the current requirement for a negative result from a molecular test taken within 72 hours of departing for Canada. Those test results will also still be accepted from travelers.

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Antigen tests are typically cheaper and faster than molecular tests, and more widely available. The antigen test must be administered by a laboratory, health-care entity or telehealth service. Rapid tests administered at home will not be sufficient.

Mandatory random COVID-19 testing will continue at points of entry, but the government will drop the requirement that fully vaccinated travelers who have been outside Canada or the U.S. must quarantine while awaiting their test results.

Children under the age of 12 who are not yet fully vaccinated but have travelled with fully vaccinated adults will no longer have to avoid settings such as schools and daycares for two weeks.

The Federal Government will also lift its advisory against non-essential travel outside Canada