Is a COVID-19 RT-PCR test mandatory for travel?

Same day rt-pcr travel testing

Tourism is a primary source of revenue generation in many countries. In the year 2019 in the USA alone, the number of foreign tourists was close to 80 million, which provided an economic boost to the overall GDP of the country. But after the pandemic, the whole scenario changed, and the financial dent it has on the tourism industry will take many years to recover. The RT-PCR test for travel will play a pivotal role in the post-pandemic world and help nations rebuild their tourism. It will help protect the spread of the disease and allow everyone to be cautious while moving from one place to another.

Why is COVID 19 testing important?

For multiple reasons, it is necessary for any individual who seems to have been infected to either have RT-PCR COVID-19 Test or an antigen test. 

  • Firstly it is for one’s health benefit, and if affected, they must take care of themselves or severe degradation of health is possible.  
  • They must isolate themselves from others and stop spreading it further in the community.
  • The friends and relatives who have been in close contact must be notified to be cautious and take tests if necessary.

Is COVID 19 testing necessary for a traveler?

From movement restrictions to not allowing passengers to board a flight without negative RT-PCR COVID-19 Test results, a lot has transpired in the last two years. However, keeping the tourism industry and business in mind, many countries have relaxed several restrictions for travelers. For traveling to countries like the Maldives and Morocco, negative results of the RT-PCR COVID-19 Test are still necessary before boarding a flight. However, no such test is needed in countries like Portugal and Greece if the traveler is fully vaccinated. Whereas in the USA, a mandatory negative RT-PCR COVID-19 Test result is necessary. In Bahrain, neither RT-PCR COVID-19 Test nor full vaccination status is required for travelers. Rules and conditions will vary in this uncertain period. However, quarantine for unvaccinated travelers and COVID 19 testing after they have landed on the destination country remains essential in most parts of the world.

 When should one get tested?

Doctors suggest one should get tested if they have been in contact with a positive patient or if they are showing symptoms of the disease, which include:

  • Fever
  • Cough 
  • Fatigue
  • Sore throat
  • Body aches 
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting

What are the travel guidelines provided by CDC?

With the mounting pressure on the hospitals to tackle COVID-19 cases, CDC has provided strict guidelines for domestic and international travelers from 6th December 2021 onwards. Any person above two years old traveling to the US by air has to carry their negative COVID 19 testing reports that they have taken one day before their travel date. Travelers can also show recovery documentation stating they have recovered from COVID-19 in the 90 days before boarding the flight.

Conclusion

While these guidelines can be tiresome for many travelers, safety is utmost because the pandemic is not yet over. If you are looking for same-Day travel testing in Arizona, Affordable Rapid Testing with its variety of test packages offers rapid, affordable, and reliable results. Since our labs are located close to the airport, you can easily get your tests done while on your way to the airport with our same-say travel testing options.

Our locations:

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.