Jefferson Health, Ambulnz, and the Philadelphia International Airport announced a Covid-19 testing program.
Starting today, the program will operate from the Terminal E departures building.
The Covid-19 testing program is designed for asymptomatic passengers flying out of the airport with multiple testing options, including an antigen test, a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, and a Rapid PCR test planned in the future.
The options range in price from $70 to $130. According to a release, the program is among the most affordable in the nation.
Test results will be texted to passengers the same day for antigen tests and within 48 to 72 hours for the standard PCR test. Parking in the Terminal E Parking Garage will be complimentary for up to two hours for testing patrons.
The availability of Covid-19 testing will enable airport passengers to expand connections with destinations requiring testing before arrival.
Passengers traveling to many Caribbean destinations must produce a negative PCR test result, administered in the previous 72 hours, as a condition for boarding a plane.
The Caribbean represents one of PHL’s top destination markets in the winter season. PCR tests that use a nasal swab are seeing longer turnaround times due to a surge in coronavirus cases.
“Jefferson Health and Ambulnz are ideal partners for this program because they possess an incredible combination of world-class expertise with a focus on equity in healthcare access,” said PHL CEO Chellie Cameron. “This testing service will enable Philadelphia to safely reconnect passengers to new destinations, supporting the recovery of the entire region.”
Medical providers will administer testing in the facility, which has been equipped with medically appropriate air filtration and circulation and a private office setting for each passenger. Jefferson Health will administer the testing via Rapid Reliable Testing, the Covid-19 response division of Ambulnz, which is a joint venture with Jefferson.
The program can be scaled up as demand increases. Additional testing program locations at the airport will be announced when available.
