The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is running to identify a test formula that will update mandatory quarantine to reactivate the airline industry that has been decimated by the coronavirus outbreak.
IATA, which represents approximately 290 airlines worldwide, is working with the International Civil Aviation Organization and the World Health Organization to build immediate and scalable verification systems, said Conrad Clifford, IATA Regional Vice President for Asia-Pacific.
“We’re saying we want proof because we want to get rid of quarantines,” Clifford said in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Monday. “What you’ve noticed so far is that if there are 40 or more days, it’s the same as your borders. “
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Clifford said IATA “would prefer to see the evidence before departure and, ideally, if we can locate countries with similar Covid threat levels, such as Singapore and Hong Kong, this eliminates the need for more testing. “
Singapore and Hong Kong agreed last week to open their borders for the first time in nearly seven months, exempting citizens of any of the cities from mandatory quarantine to restore ties between Asia’s two major monetary centers. They start in a few weeks, they haven’t been made public yet.
According to Clifford, ideally, Covid-19 tests charge less than $10.
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