(BPT) - After a long, COVID-imposed hiatus, people want to take to the skies again. However, in order to travel to or from the United States, people need to be COVID-negative. A COVID test is the only way to know if a person is positive. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 'COVID-19 self-tests (also referred to as home tests or over-the-counter tests) are one of many risk-reduction measures, along with vaccination, masking and physical distancing, that protect you and others by reducing the chances of spreading SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.'
In fact, the U.S. requires arriving international travelers to take a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of flight departure to the U.S., regardless of whether they are returning U.S. citizens or other travelers. However, travelers at home or abroad don't want to hunt down a testing site that has appointment openings or may be inconveniently located. Plus, they'd need to wait for the results, which can take a couple of days or more. Travelers want a test to administer by themselves that gives them fast results.
Good news
New self-testing options give travelers more choices in how they take their COVID-19 test to travel to and from the U.S.
'Consumer habits are changing, and people have pivoted during the pandemic to wanting the convenience of home deliveries,' says Dr. Simon Worrell, global medical director, Collinson. 'Our self-test kits acknowledge that - and give prospective travelers another viable option for getting tested. Travel recovery is happening gradually, but doing all we can to help people take to the skies is imperative to that, and this is Collinson playing our part in making sure we can get the world traveling safely again.'
To meet that demand, Collinson recently launched its new self-test kit as a solution for U.S. travelers returning to the country.
Using self-tests
The Food and Drug Administration recently has approved delivering the antigen test kits directly to individuals. Customers can order the kits online, administer it themselves and receive the results quickly. This kit can be shipped directly to your home prior to your travel abroad, and is perfect for those planning to return to the U.S. Digital results are available within 30-60 minutes, to ensure convenience and dependability during these trying times.
The Collinson self test includes an at-home kit that allows people to administer the test themselves under medical supervision as well as a digital certificate fit for travel.
Customers can choose from a range of solutions - predeparture and post-arrival - that make travel testing flexible. This option allows travelers to test themselves at their current location, such as the comfort of their home, hotel room or Airbnb. It's no longer necessary to travel to a health care facility that may be in a remote or hard-to-access area.
Convenient testing
Travelers can purchase the Collinson at-home antigen self-test and schedule a supervised session with a medical professional. Upon receiving the kit, customers register it with Collinson and follow the simple step-by-step instructions. After taking the test, they upload the results. Customers will also be asked to provide a picture of their passport and complete an online form verifying personal details. Customers will receive an email of their official results via a digital certificate from Collinson that they are fit for travel within 24 hours. These tests relieve a major hurdle for people visiting areas that may not have easy access to a testing site.
