BUFFALO, N.Y. — Rapid testing may no longer be needed for vaccinated Canadians in a three-step plan announced by Canadian leaders.

What You Need To Know

  • Congressman Higgins announces Canadian government plans to remove PCR testing requirement for vaccinated Canadian travelers

  • Some families opened rapid testing sites during the pandemic

  • They may not be needed forever

Rep. Brian Higgins met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Wednesday where he learned travel restrictions are set to change in the coming days.

The border has been open to vaccinated U.S. and Canadian citizens for over a week and remains below average, according to data from the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority and Niagara Falls Bridge Commission.

In 2019, a total of 20,431 vehicles crossed the Rainbow Bridge from Nov. 8 to Nov. 14. During that same timeframe in 2021, a total of 5,650 vehicles crossed, indicating a 72% decrease in travel.

Throughout the pandemic, private PCR testing sites opened to accommodate restrictions set forth for travel and work, including WNY Rapid Testing, owned and operated by the Misiak family.

“Late at night [travelers] needed to be tested, they needed to pay for hotels, so on and so forth,” said Karen Misiak, who came out of retirement and returned home to WNY from Arizona to start the business. “I was answering phones. I felt terrible. And there was a need for late night hours and they would get turned away at the border. They would have to take cabs and Ubers back and forth.”

The Misiaks acknowledge their services may not be needed forever, but remain optimistic about the future.

“As long as people need to be tested, we’re going to be here,” she said. “We see a lot of companies, a lot of schools, just family members that need testing. So we’re going to be here until we’re not needed anymore.”

WNY Rapid Testing has sites around the area including 211 Porter Ave. near the Peace Bridge and the airport.