PCR checks at airport likely to move

As frustrations continue to mount over the delay in the return of COVID-19 test results and the slow processing of visitors at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA), authorities are seeking to move COVID-19 testing away from the airport to address the problem.

As more flights arrive in the island and as COVID-19 positive cases continue to rise locally, resulting in more contact tracing, there have been increasing delays in results being returned, which has resulted in some visitors spending more to stay in quarantine and some individuals missing their flights to leave the island.

Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) officials revealed on Wednesday that in addition to more testing sites, the Bayview Hospital could soon become the latest location with a test-lab for the processing of COVID-19 PCR tests.

Chief Executive Officer of the BHTA Senator Rudy Grant acknowledged the current backlog in COVID-19 test results for visitors, stating that at a recent meeting with Minister of Tourism and International Transport Senator Lisa Cummins the recommendation was to move the testing from the airport to other facilities.

“There has been discussion about facilitating testing at hotels. Presently there is the Best Dos Santos Lab, there is the Crane Lab, and there is a third lab coming in operation very soon, that is Bayview, and the expectation also is that there may very well be a fourth lab,” said Grant.

He pointed out that “quite a number” of BHTA accommodation and tour operation members have been complaining about the slow pace of passengers being processed at the airport.

However, he said during the meeting with authorities recently, it was disclosed that “a technological solution is being contemplated” and should be in place within two weeks.

“That technological solution will see an integration of the BIMSafe app (a location and symptoms monitoring mobile application) as well as the kiosks,” Grant told the BHTA’s third quarterly general meeting on Wednesday.

“The processing of passengers at the Grantley Adams International Airport is important. If we are able to have that technological solution as Minister Cummins has communicated, working well, then we should be able to see better processing, but also with the testing being moved from the airport, be able to guarantee a better experience,” he said.

Grant was unable to say if there would be one common fee charged for the testing at the facilities taking over the PCR tests for COVID-19 from the airport and how much it would be.

At the same time, however, he explained that while concerns were being raised about the difference in the price for testing at different facilities, which could reach as much as $400 at some locations, it should be noted that some of them were offering “add-on services”.

With hoteliers concerned about clear communication regarding when testing was likely to stop at the airport and what the costs would be, Grant gave the assurance they would be informed ahead of time.

Explaining that there was a process which would include getting approval from Cabinet, Grant said “What is being contemplated is that if that is agreed to, there is going to be a recommended period of a month, where there would still be facilitating the test free for persons who are coming in so that the appropriate communication can be given and the relevant adjustment made by ambassadors, coming in.

“So you will likely see, once it is approved by Cabinet, the implementation of the testing away from the airport, but the actual expenditure component of it will still be for a period of time, and it was proposed for a month,” he added.

Also seeking to allay any fears among tourism officials regarding the changes to testing sites for visitors was Chairman of the BHTA Geoffrey Roach, who said the association has been very firm in its requests of authorities.

He said the BHTA has asked for a review of the processes from time to time, to ensure that they were being enhanced.

“One of the things we have continued to urge at every turn, is that any change to the protocols that we are given adequate time to ensure that the visitors are aware of what the changes are . . . In this case, as the CEO said, it has been agreed that the period we are looking at would be a month to facilitate that change,” said Roach.

“We have been given the assurance that the process is being improved through a number of initiatives. We are hopeful that the enhancements that we are told about will be implemented as seamlessly as possible to ensure that the challenges we have seen visitors face are certainly diminished,” he said.
(marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb)