Emirates Commences 10-minute COVID-19 Test For passengers
Emirates Airline has commenced a 10-minute COVID-19 blood test for passengers departing from its Dubai headquarters, in what it declared Wednesday as a first for the aviation industry.
Emirates continued limited passenger flights earlier this month after the United Arab Emirates grounded all commercial aircraft.
The flights are open to foreign citizens who want to depart the country, but no incoming passengers are allowed.
“Passengers on today’s flight to Tunisia were all tested for COVID-19 (respiratory disease) before leaving from Dubai.
“Emirates is the first airline to perform on-site rapid COVID-19 tests for passengers,” the airline said in a statement.
The blood tests were conducted by the Dubai Health Authority in the check-in area, with results coming out within 10 minutes.
“We are working on plans to scale up testing facilities in the future and expand it to other flights.
“This will enable us to conduct on-site tests and provide immediate confirmation for Emirates passengers travelling to countries that require COVID-19 test certificates,” said Chief Operating Officer Adel al-Redha.age
Emirates, the biggest carrier in the Middle East, has also said that cleaning and disinfection of planes will take place in Dubai after each flight.
The UAE, which groups seven emirates encompassing Dubai, has declared almost 5,000 COVID-19 cases and 28 deaths.
It has imposed an extensive crackdown, encompassing the flight ban and closure of borders, shopping malls, entertainment centres and markets.
A two-week curfew was imposed in Dubai on April 4 following a big jump in the number of cases in the UAE, where some 10 million people live, 90 percent of them expatriates.
