The Heathrow airport, London has announced that it will be providing passengers with a quick COVID-19 test before they depart from the airport. The passengers will get the result of the test within an hour. This private test will cost passengers 80 pounds. The aim of this test is to help passengers departing from the UK to meet the requirements set by different countries. With this, it would also reassure passengers boarding the aircraft is that everyone onboard is healthy and safe to travel with. More on the story ahead.
Heathrow Airport Adds COVID-19 Testing Facility for Departing Passengers
The rapid one-hour COVID-19 test is initially available for passengers travelling to Hong Kong. Terminal 2 and Terminal 5 of the Heathrow airport are equipped with rapid saliva testing facilities. Very soon, the testing will be further extended to passengers travelling to more number of countries which require a COVID-19 negative certificate upon arrival of the passengers at the country.
John Holland-Kaye, CEO of the Heathrow airport, London said, “Ultimately, we need a Common International Standard for pre-departure testing, and we welcome the UK government's recent announcement that it wants to take a global lead in establishing this. We will work with them to make this happen as soon as possible so that we protect livelihoods as well as lives.”
Airlines such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Cathay Pacific operate on routes which require passengers to get a COVID-19 test before departing. Thus this facility will help these airlines in streamlining their operations to these countries very smoothly.
As of now, the Heathrow airport will provide its passengers with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test. It is not the same as a PCR test. PCR tests are more widely used because its results can be processed without the need of a laboratory. The airport has plans of adding other kinds of tests very soon as well. These pre-departure tests will be carried out by Collinson nurses. The appointment for the test needs to be pre-booked.
