Do I Need to Be Tested for COVID-19 Before I Fly?

We didn't know how good we had it when we were stressing over packing too little for our trip or worrying we wouldn't catch our flight on time. Now that the pandemic has swept the nation, there are more major anxieties we have around boarding a plane. The main one being the fear of contracting coronavirus or even unknowingly spreading it to our fellow passengers.

In April, Emirates began conducting COVID-19 blood tests with help from the Dubai Health Authority. According to CNN, tests were carried out in the "Group Check-in area of Terminal 3 and results were available within 10 minutes."

Emirates is currently the only airline to be testing passengers for the virus, though there are areas around the world that request a negative coronavirus test to enter. The Czech Republic, St. Lucia, and French Polynesia are a few of the places that currently request test results from visitors.

If you fly to Hong Kong, Austria, or Iceland, test upon arrival. Opting out of the test will put you in a two-week quarantine hold before you can enjoy your time there.

Recently, Alaska announced they would lift quarantine for travelers, so long as they were tested before entering the state.

As travel begins to open back up, it may be more common that you must take a COVID-19 test before jetting off. Currently, there is no universal standard for getting tested, so it largely depends on where you visit and when.

Regardless, it doesn't hurt to get tested, as most insurance plans are waiving fees for getting one. If you do have symptoms, call your doctor to get tested immediately and be sure not to board the plane. It's not worth the risk.

Not quite ready to get on a plane? HERE are some fun staycation ideas for your time in quarantine!