As of February 28, fully vaccinated travelers will no longer be required to present a negative PCR molecular test to enter back into Canada. Travelers will now have the option of using a clinicly-administered Covid-19 rapid antigen test taken within the last 24 hours instead.

Keep in mind, the key words are "clinically administered". That means taking an at-home rapid antigen test is not sufficient. The test must be authorized by the country in which it was purchased and must be administered by a laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth service.

The good news for New Brunswickers looking to cross the international border on day trips to Maine is that clinically administered rapid PCR tests by Curative that provide results within two hours will soon be available for free to anyone at the Calais Rec Centre, including Canadians. We spoke to a rep from Curative today who said the company expects to have these rapid PCR tests, which are authorized by Health Canada, available at their Calais, Maine testing location within the first two weeks of March. Regular PCR tests are already available for free at this location but Curative is expanding its available testing to include these rapid PCR tests with two-hour result turnover time. You will still need an appointment, so book ahead before planning a trip over by visiting Curative.com and writing "Calais, Maine" in drop-down location finder. Curative also makes rapid antigen tests but no word yet on when these will be available at the Calais location.

The House of Commons passed the Emergencies Act by vote of 185 to 151 on Monday. The streets of downtown Ottawa were quiet outside of police presence on Tuesday. St. Stephen, New Brunswick man Chris Deering was one of the many people arrested this weekend in Ottawa. Charges against him have been dropped; however, he was taken by paddy wagon and dropped off outside of the city limits and told not to return or else once again be subject to arrest. Deering is now back in New Brunswick where is reaching out to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association to share his story. Meanwhile in St. Andrews, former RCMP officer Larry Burden has spent two hours a day for nearly two weeks standing out front the Cenotaph in St. Andrews protesting COVID-19 measures and restrictions.