COVID 19 has drastically changed the lives of countless people worldwide and it is one of the reasons why PCR for travel has become one of the requirements for travelling. COVID-19 has forced borders to shut down and placed international travel on hold. However, as more people worldwide are getting vaccinated, countries are opening up their borders, and people can now travel to other countries.
Travelling Amidst the Pandemic
The end of 2020 saw the first rollout of FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines. Since then, vaccination programs have been implemented worldwide. As a result, some countries are now easing their entry requirements and quarantine periods for fully vaccinated travellers. However, the new threat from a more contagious delta variant has made countries extra cautious in letting people into their borders. Therefore, fully vaccinated travellers may still be required to show a negative result for COVID-19 before their travel. So, if you are planning to travel, it is best to arrange for a PCR for travel testing.
What is a PCR test?
Polymerase chain reaction or PCR is a test designed to determine if there are signs that a specific organism is in your body. However, PCR tests are specific only to a specific organism, such as a virus and cannot look for other organisms. For example, COVID-19 PCR tests are designed only to look for signs of SARS-COV-2, which is the virus responsible for COVID-19. These tests cannot detect if a person is infected with other pathogens.
The Need for PCR for Travel Testing
PCR test is considered the “gold standard” in testing for COVID-19, which will take an average of 72 hours to see the results. Some clinics and testing centers offer rapid PCR for travel, with results released within 30 minutes. However, these rapid tests are more expensive than the regular ones. Fortunately, there are testing centers like Markham M Medical that offer a 24-hour turnaround for PRC test results which are less expensive than expedited PCR tests.
If you plan to travel to another country, it is best to get tested and have the results released within the allotted number of days required by your CDC for international travel. Most often than not, you may need to get a rapid PCR test since most airlines will need to see a negative PCR for travel results no more than three days before your flight.
Who Needs PCR testing for travel?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend international travel until a person is fully vaccinated and has a negative PCR for travel results. However, if travel is necessary, travellers will need to follow strict CDC recommendations and guidelines.
Travellers who have been fully vaccinated have fewer chances of getting infected or spreading COVID-19; however, they are still prone to get infected with COVID-19’s newest Delta variant. Therefore, it is required for all travellers, regardless of their citizenship or vaccination status, to show proof of negative results for COVID-19 no more than three days before their flight.
Travelling amidst the pandemic has become more complicated, and until the whole world has reached a flat curve, travel restrictions and strict guidelines will continue to be implemented. It is then best to understand all the travel requirements so you can determine when to book an appointment for a PCR for travel testing.