Pearson Airport offers COVID-19 testing to international arrivals as part of study

International travellers landing at Pearson Airport will be given the option to take a COVID-19 test starting Wednesday.

The testing is part of a study by McMaster HealthLabs with the support of Air Canada and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority.

Researchers will be looking at the effectiveness of various quarantine periods for travellers.

“Our study will provide data to help determine if an airport-based COVID-19 surveillance program is feasible, whether self-collection of COVID-19 testing is effective, and to explore options regarding the 14-day quarantine for international travel,” said John Gilmour, MHL’s Chief Executive Officer.

Testing is voluntary. Those that agree will give a sample to researchers before leaving the airport.

They will supply two additional self-collected samples at seven and 14 days after arrival.

The research project will run for one month.