Donegal Airport has announced the launch of RT-PCR Covid 19 testing for the festive and spring season.
As travel resumes, many countries and airlines require individuals to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test prior to travel. For many countries, Real Time PCR (RT-PCR) is the accepted method of testing.
Donegal Airport has joined forces with Westmeath company Medel Healthcare to provide the service at a cost of €149 per person. Bookings are being taken from 7th December.
The EU traffic light travel system currently has Ireland at status orange – which means that passengers from orange regions who have a negative test result for Covid-19 up to three days prior to departure do not need to restrict their movements on arrival in most countries.
Most of Europe is in the red zone, where passengers must restrict their movements for 14 days. However after 29th November, any passenger from an ‘orange’, ‘red’ or ‘grey’ region who receives a negative PCR COVID-19 test five days after they arrive in Ireland will no longer have to restrict their movement.
Medel Healthcare Manager Thomas Browne stated: “We are thrilled to offer our services to Donegal Airport for the coming festive and spring seasons. We have liaised with our lab over the past week to ensure logistically we can achieve results within the 72 hour window essential for passengers. I am extremely happy to announce that local personnel wishing to avail of our services are quite welcome to book either services we provide also. We feel it’s important to initiate ways the Aviation and Travel industries can get back on their feet with everyone looking to 2021 with the hope normality is on the horizon.”
Donegal Airport Manager Eilis Docherty added: “Tá muid an lúcháireach go bhfuil Medel Healthcare ag oscailt Ionad Tástáil COVID-19 ar an suíomh anseo ag Aerfort Dhún na nGall. We are delighted to have Medel Healthcare open a dedicated COVID-19 testing facility here at Donegal Airport for the Northwest region.
“There is a growing demand for travel related COVID testing and we have been keen to ensure that a test facility is available within our own region. The facility is fully open to the public, whether they need a test for travel, or any other reason and with ample free parking available onsite our facilities are ideal for use.”