COVID-19 testing has become a significant development to open destinations and maintain visitors’ and residents’ security. Many foreign nations now demand such pre-trip Covid testing. To enter the country, you must typically be able to show negative results from a Covid test between 24 hours to 7 days after your arrival.
Though a Covid test for travel is no longer in limited supply, some places will still refuse to test you if you don’t have symptoms or a history of exposure. However, as stated below, there are several things to keep in mind to get tested for Covid before visiting.
Decide on the types of Covid tests.
- RT-PCR: It is a molecular test that diagnoses COVID-19 using nasal and throat swabs or saliva. It is the most accurate and generally acknowledged test in the world. Test results are usually available in a day or two—the test costs around Rs2,500.
- Antigen test: This fast diagnostic test looks for current COVID-19 infection using throat and nasal swabs. The antigen test produces findings in less than an hour. A positive result is thought to be correct, yet it has a high rate of false negatives. As a result, a negative impact must be supplemented by a PCR test. The test cannot conclusively rule out a current COVID-19 infection. As a result, fewer nations acknowledge it as an entrance permit—this test costs around Rs450.
- Antibody test: A blood sample from your finger is used to evaluate whether you have antibodies from a previous COVID-19 infection. It usually takes around 30 minutes to get the results. The test may be unreliable, necessitating a repeat to validate the results. It is not a screening test for active COVID-19 infection. It costs around Rs500.
Check which test is required for your trip.
Find out the test type that is required for you to travel. Also, check the timeframes to see when a COVID-19 test is valid for travel on a specific airline or entrance into a nation. For example, while some airlines demand tests to be no older than 48 hours, others will accept tests done up to 96 hours before departure.
When should you get your COVID-19 travel test?
When getting a COVID-19 test for travel, time – or more precisely, timing – is essential. The standards you must follow will depend on where you are going, where you are coming from, and whether or not you are visiting numerous sites.In general, you should schedule your COVID-19 test to obtain results within three days before your trip. This means you can do a fast antigen test 24 to 72 hours before departure or a PCR test four to six days before departure. PCR tests typically take 24 to 72 hours to complete.
Where can you get a coronavirus test before (or after) travelling?
Coronavirus testing is available in several locations, including urgent care centres, fire stations, hospitals, travel clinics, pop-up sites, pharmacies, and airports.
What Should you do if your Covid test result comes positive?
Suppose you have taken a Covid test for travel and the results are positive, then you should not attempt the trip. Instead, people should isolate themselves, take care with proper medications and postpone travel until they recover from the Covid disease.