Dublin Airport to open two COVID-19 testing sites from Thursday

Dublin Airport will soon be able to offer two COVID-19 testing sites, with results available within one or two days.

The private tests will be available for both travellers and non-travellers, and will come into operation this Thursday. They will cost between €99 and €159 and be operated by Randox Health and RocDoc, with one site run by each. Customers will be able to pre-book the tests, which can be by walk-in or via drive-through.

The cheapest test, the Randox PCR test, costs €99 ahd results are delivered the next day. RocDoc's drive-through PCR test costs €129 with results in 24-48 hours, while their LAMP tests are more expensive but can deliver far quicker results.

"We have been keen to provide testing at Dublin Airport for some time and the Government's recent decision to grant planning exemption, which we strongly welcome, will enable two testing facilities to open this Thursday," said Vincent Harrison, Managing Director at Dublin Airport. He called it "a very positive step to help people travel safely and meet emerging rules both at home and abroad."

Wikipedia

The two testing sites may now allow Ireland to be more integrated with the EU-wide traffic light system for international travel. Under this new system, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) will designate countries according to their rates of transmission, with a simple green/amber/red label that will govern rules.

Green areas will have unrestricted travel, while those coming from amber regions can end their isolation early if they get a negative test like those that will be available at Dublin Airport or have had one within three days of travel. Those coming from red areas currently have to isolate for 14 days on their arrival in Ireland.

"We have significant capacity in place to implement high volume PCR testing, which is currently the only method of COVID-19 testing recognised and approved by every country worldwide," said Sophie Boyd, who is heading up the testing at Dublin Airport for Randox.

There will initially be capacity for 12,000 tests per day, with the hope that that number will rise to 15,000 in the near future.

Topics: Ireland

Mike Wood

Mike Meehall Wood is a freelance journalist and translator. He writes for LADbible, VICE and countless sports publications, focusing on rugby league, football and boxing. He is a graduate of Leeds University and maintains a fizzy pop obsession. Contact Mike at [email protected]