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A new coronavirus testing center has opened at Dublin Airport with the capacity to conduct thousands of tests per day.<\/p>\nA new coronavirus testing center has opened at Dublin Airport with the capacity to conduct thousands of tests per day.<\/p>\n
The drive-through facility, operated by Irish healthcare company RocDoc, officially began its operations on Thursday morning.<\/p>\n
The firm believes it can help facilitate safer national and international travel ahead of the Christmas period.<\/p>\n
RocDoc chief executive David Rock said: \u201cAs long as they abide by the HSE\u2019s lockdown advice and see where we are at that time, hopefully it will have a very positive effect.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf lockdown is lifted and safe travel does become an option, then this facility will be here to cater for that.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s not just external travel, we\u2019re also talking about internal. We obviously have social gatherings that are going to happen around the Christmas time, if the HSE guidance allows for it.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring that time it\u2019s important that some people that will be visiting elderly or sick or dying family members, they have the capacity to be able to be tested, and to see them in a safe manner.\u201d<\/p>\n
The facility is operating from the Express Green Long-Term car park opposite the airport.<\/p>\n
It was launched by Tony Murphy, chair of Fingal County Council\u2019s tourism committee, and he was the first person to be tested at the facility.<\/p>\n
RocDoc offers two tests, rapid LAMP testing as well as PCR testing- the gold standard used by the HSE.<\/p>\n
Mr Rock said: \u201cThey\u2019re both quite sensitive. Their sensitivity and specificity would be very similar. The test itself with LAMP technology can be done here on site.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s done here in a mobile laboratory which will then go to the static laboratory which will be built in the next few weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen with PCR we send it off-site currently, it takes a little bit longer for that. So it\u2019s the next day, or 36 hours for that to come back.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s two options on LAMP. If we have scientists on standby for express testing, that\u2019s 199 euro, and that gives results within a few hours really.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe standard LAMP is generally the same day, within a few hours, and that\u2019s 149 euro.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prices start at 99 euros for a test, and RocDoc believes it will help international travelers negotiate the EU\u2019s traffic light system.<\/p>\n
Currently, people arriving in Ireland from \u201cgreen\u201d countries do not have to take extra precautions under the traffic light system.<\/p>\n
Those coming from \u201corange\u201d countries or regions will not have to restrict their movements on arrival if they have tested negative no more than three days prior to their arrival.<\/p>\n
The RocDoc site is one of two testing facilities being opened at Dublin Airport (Brian Lawless\/PA)
\nPassengers arriving in Ireland from so-called red countries must restrict their movements for 14 days, but from November 29 they can reduce that period if they have a negative test a minimum of five days after arrival.<\/p>\n
Mr Rock said the testing site will also help people seeking to visit elderly relatives.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cSome people want to go and see very elderly mothers or fathers, are concerned.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have no symptoms, they haven\u2019t been in contact with anyone, but they want that extra level of peace of mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
A second testing facility operated by the company Randox is also due to open at the airport, located close to the Terminal 2 multistory car park.<\/p>\n
Passengers and the general public will be able to take either a drive-through or walk-in test.<\/p>\n
There is fresh demand for travel-related Covid-19 testing following the introduction of the EU traffic light system in Ireland and across Europe.<\/p>\n
Several countries now require travelers to have had a negative Covid-19 test prior to their journey.<\/p>\n
The State is advising the public to \u201cexercise a high degree of caution\u201d if travelling to countries covered by the EU traffic light system.<\/p>\n
For countries not covered by the system, the advice is to \u201cavoid non-essential\u201d travel.<\/p>\n