SAULT STE. MARIE, MI (MPRN)— Vaccinated travelers to Canada won’t need a negative PCR test to cross the border anymore.
As of Monday, the Canadian government now accepts negative antigen tests as well, but some residents of Sault Ste. Marie don’t expect the new policy to make things easier.
Antigen tests are cheaper and more widely available than PCR tests, but antigen test results are only valid within 24 hours of crossing the border.
For some residents of Sault Ste. Marie, that’s hard to coordinate.
Patricia Jones lives in Soo, Michigan, but is the primary caregiver for her mother in Soo, Ontario. She’s been getting PCR tests twice a week since June. Those tests are good for 72 hours. She’d gladly pay less for antigen tests but says the 24-hour time limit is too short.
“If she has to be taken to the hospital, I need to be able to get across to assist her. So for me, I’m going to be continuing to pay… and go with the PCR. It’s not good for people in my situation.”
Jones says being vaccinated and boosted should be enough to cross the border.