
Tampa International Airport was the first airport in the United States to offer two types of FDA-approved COVID-19 tests to all passengers. The airport's pilot programme, which began in October 2020, was extended to the end of the year. However, in May 2022, the airport announced it was closing its testing site due to a decrease in demand.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
COVID-19 Testing | Tampa International Airport (TPA) offered COVID-19 testing to all passengers in 2020 |
Testing Type | PCR and rapid antigen tests |
Testing Period | October 2020 to May 2022 |
Testing Provider | BayCare Health System |
Testing Location | Inside the Main Terminal near the Airside F shuttle |
Testing Hours | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., seven days a week |
Testing Cost | PCR test: $125; Rapid antigen test: $57 |
What You'll Learn
- Tampa International Airport offers COVID-19 testing to all passengers
- The airport was the first in the country to offer two types of tests: FDA-approved
- The tests are available on a walk-in basis
- The PCR test costs $125 and the rapid antigen test costs $57
- The airport is closing its testing site due to a decrease in demand
Tampa International Airport offers COVID-19 testing to all passengers
Tampa International Airport (TPA) offers COVID-19 testing to all passengers. The airport was the first in the country to offer two types of FDA-approved tests: polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid antigen tests. The PCR test costs $125, while the rapid antigen test costs $57. Testing is available seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m, before security checkpoints inside the Main Terminal near the Airside F shuttle. The site is run by Clearwater-based BayCare Health System.
The airport's COVID-19 testing pilot program began on October 1, 2020, and was initially offered on a walk-in basis through October 31, 2020. The program was then extended through the end of 2020. During the October pilot program, an average of 130 to 140 passengers were tested per day, with more than 3,000 total people tested that month.
In May 2022, Tampa International Airport announced it was closing its COVID testing site due to a steady decrease in demand. At its height, the site was administering about 260 tests per day, but that number had dropped to about 30 per day as testing and vaccinations became more readily available in the Tampa Bay area.
Airports in Chihuahua, Mexico: A Comprehensive Overview
You may want to see also
The airport was the first in the country to offer two types of tests: FDA-approved
Tampa International Airport was the first airport in the country to offer two types of FDA-approved COVID-19 tests for people travelling through the airport. The tests were available seven days a week, from 8 am to 2 pm, before security checkpoints inside the Main Terminal near the Airside F shuttle.
The two tests were the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which cost $125, and the rapid antigen test, which cost $57. The PCR test is a molecular diagnostic test that can detect the virus's genetic material. The rapid antigen test is a less expensive and faster way to detect the virus's surface proteins.
Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano said in a news release:
> As a gateway to the West Coast of Florida with a growing market for international travel, Tampa International Airport has a responsibility to explore safe, rapid and affordable ways to keep our travellers, their destinations and our community as safe and healthy as possible.
The airport's COVID-19 testing pilot program began on 1 October 2020 and was offered on a walk-in basis through 31 October. The program was then extended through the end of 2020. However, in May 2022, the airport announced it was closing its COVID testing site due to a steady decrease in demand.
Love Field Airport: Where is it Located?
You may want to see also
The tests are available on a walk-in basis
Tampa International Airport (TPA) does offer COVID-19 testing to all passengers. The airport was the first in the country to offer two types of FDA-approved tests: the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and the rapid antigen test. The tests are available on a walk-in basis, seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are located before security checkpoints inside the Main Terminal near the Airside F shuttle.
The PCR test costs $125, while the rapid antigen test costs $57. During the October pilot programme, an average of 130 to 140 passengers were tested per day, with more than 3,000 people tested in October. The programme was then extended through the end of 2020.
In May 2022, Tampa International Airport announced it would be closing its COVID testing site due to a steady decrease in demand.
Clear Airport Protocol: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
The PCR test costs $125 and the rapid antigen test costs $57
Tampa International Airport (TPA) offers two types of COVID-19 tests to all passengers: the PCR test and the rapid antigen test. The PCR test costs $125 and the rapid antigen test costs $57. The testing site is located before security checkpoints inside the Main Terminal near the Airside F shuttle. Testing is available on a walk-in basis, seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tampa International Airport was the first airport in the country to offer two types of FDA-approved COVID-19 tests for people travelling through the airport. The airport's CEO, Joe Lopano, said that as a gateway to the West Coast of Florida with a increasing international travel market, Tampa International Airport has a responsibility to explore safe, rapid and affordable ways to keep travellers, their destinations and the community safe and healthy.
The airport's COVID-19 testing pilot program began on 1 October 2020 and was initially offered through 31 October 2020. The program was then extended through the end of 2020. However, due to a steady decrease in demand, the airport announced in May 2022 that it would be shutting down its COVID testing site.
Auckland Airport: Exploring Luggage Storage Options and Availability
You may want to see also
The airport is closing its testing site due to a decrease in demand
Tampa International Airport is closing its COVID-19 testing site due to a decrease in demand. The airport was the first in the country to offer two types of FDA-approved tests for passengers, with an average of 130 to 140 people tested daily during the pilot programme. At its peak, the site was administering around 260 tests per day, but this has since dropped to about 30 per day. The site was run by the Clearwater-based BayCare Health System and opened in October 2020, when demand for COVID-19 tests was high.
Tampa International Airport offered two types of tests: the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which cost $125, and the rapid antigen test, which cost $57. Testing was available seven days a week, from 8 am to 2 pm, before security checkpoints inside the Main Terminal near the Airside F shuttle.
Travel Guide: Buses from HKG Airport to the City
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Tampa International Airport offers COVID-19 testing to all passengers.
Tampa Airport started offering COVID-19 testing on 1 October 2020.
The PCR test costs $125 and the rapid antigen test costs $57.
No, testing is available on a walk-in basis.
The testing site is located before the security checkpoints inside the Main Terminal near the Airside F shuttle.