PCR costs could hamper air transport recovery

Geneva, May 4 (Prensa Latina) The International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Tuesday warned that the high costs of PCR tests for Covid-19 could hamper the sector's recovery, and called for them to be affordable, timely, widely available and effective.

May 4, 2021
16:05

An IATA poll on PCR prices in 16 countries showed wide variations by markets. The countries included in the study were Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam.

According to the IATA, not all of those markets require PCR tests; however, the entry requirements demanded by several States make the availability of affordable options everywhere critical to travel recovery.

Of those surveyed, only France complied with the World Health Organization (WHO)’s recommendation that the State bear the cost of testing travelers, the IATA said.

It added that in the 15 markets where PCRs are charged, travelers must pay on average a minimum of 90 dollars and a maximum of 208 dollars.

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