Delta Will Get You to Europe Quarantine-Free
Delta Air Lines, in collaboration with Aeroporti di Roma and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are set to offer a first-of-its-kind trans-Atlantic COVID-19 testing program that will enable quarantine-free entry into Italy, in accordance with a decree expected to be issued soon by the government of Italy.
“Carefully designed COVID-19 testing protocols are the best path for resuming international travel safely and without quarantine until vaccinations are widely in place,” said Steve Sear, Delta President – International and Executive Vice President – Global Sales. “Safety is our core promise – it’s at the center of this pioneering testing effort and it’s the foundation of our standards for cleanliness and hygiene to help customers feel confident when they fly Delta.”
The program is set to begin on Dec. 19 when Delta starts testing passengers and crew. If you test negative for the virus, you’ll be flying from Hartsfield to Rome-Fiumicino International Airport without worrying about having to quarantine upon arrival in Italy. To fly on Delta’s COVID-tested flights between Atlanta and Rome, customers will need to test negative for COVID-19 through:
- A COVID Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test taken up to 72 hours before departure
- A rapid test administered at the airport in Atlanta before boarding
- A rapid test on arrival in Rome-Fiumicino
- A rapid test at Rome-Fiumicino before departure to the United States
Customers also will be asked to provide information upon entry into the U.S. to support CDC contact-tracing protocol.
Keep in mind that restrictions are still in place for travel to Italy. Only U.S. citizens who are permitted to travel to Italy for essential reasons, such as work, health and education, can fly.
Delta has engaged expert advisors from Mayo Clinic to review and assess the customer-testing protocols needed for Delta to execute a COVID-tested flight program.
“Based on the modeling we have conducted, when testing protocols are combined with multiple layers of protection, including mask requirements, proper social distancing and environmental cleaning, we can predict that the risk of COVID-19 infection – on a flight that is 60 percent full – should be nearly one in a million,” said Henry Ting, M.D., M.B.A., Chief Value Officer, Mayo Clinic.
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If the testing worked so well you wouldn’t need 4 tests in this process. One should be enough, right?
Nope. You may not have it today but could be exposed tomorrow or you have been exposed already but don’t test positive today but could tomorrow.. a test today means nothing next week.
First of its kind…that’s exactly what United has been doing to LHR…but this is totally different because it’s to FCO. Got it.