Rapid diagnostic tests for Covid-19 at airports, before boarding a plane, should be implemented as alternative to current quarantines in order to restore global air connectivity, claimed the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Tuesday (22.09.2020).
In a releaseThe association that brings together four out of five airlines in the world stressed that it will work with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and with various health authorities to "rapidly implement" this alternative.
International travel has fallen by 92% compared to 2019, more than half a year after the coronavirus pandemic was declared and, although many countries have reopened their borders, quarantines are still in place that prevent new trips from being planned, the association regrets.
«The key to restoring freedom of movement is systematic testing of all travellers before they depart, which will give governments confidence to open their borders without resorting to complicated systems that must be constantly changed.", stressed IATA Director General Alexandre de Juniac.
"Testing all passengers will give them the freedom to travel with confidence and get millions of people back on the road," the executive added in the statement.
The sector estimates that it will close the year with net losses of more than $80,000 billion, even with the most optimistic forecasts, which jeopardizes a sector on which more than 65 million direct and indirect jobs depend.
The organization supports its requests with the results of a survey which concluded that 84 percent of passengers agree on the need to carry out COVID-19 tests, and 65 percent indicate that with this measure national quarantines would be unnecessary.
Source: Reuters
Aduana News is the first Argentine customs newspaper to launch its digital version. With 20 years of experience, its publications and initiatives aim to provide the most relevant knowledge on customs issues in order to contribute to safe trade in the region.
