Free testing
Oakland Airport offer to flyers
Oakland International Airport said it will begin offering free, rapid-result COVID-19 tests to employees and the general public beginning Tuesday, which could be used for the pretesting program on flights to Hawaii.
The airport is working with CityHealth Urgent Care to make the tests available by appointment at its North Field terminal complex at 9070 Earhart Road.
“The Port of Oakland is everyone’s port and OAK has been the people’s airport since 1927,” said Port of Oakland Director of Aviation Bryant L. Francis. “For us, there is no disparity among those needing to be tested — whether going to work, school, returning home or visiting the Hawaiian Islands. That is the East Bay Way.
“We’re proud to partner with CityHealth to offer this service to airport employees, travelers and the general public with no out-of-pocket cost.”
The Hawaii pre-travel testing program is scheduled to begin Oct. 15. Travelers who, upon entry into the state, provide written confirmation of a negative test result taken within 72 hours from the final leg of departure, will be exempt from the 14-day mandatory quarantine.
“Officials at CityHealth and the Port of Oakland invite those planning travel to the Hawaiian Islands under the program to use the planned in-terminal testing facility, if needed, in order to meet the State of Hawaii requirement,” said the airport news release Tuesday.
Day-of-departure testing also will be available. These tests, which are free at Oakland airport, can cost travelers as much as $250 per person elsewhere, the airport said.
Tests can be scheduled, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, through CityHealth’s website https://bayareacovid19 testing.com/. The testing is conducted by clinicians of CityHealth and results are shared on the spot or online via the CityHealth Urgent Care secure portal, the news release said.
CityHealth Urgent Care, under the leadership of clinicians and infectious disease physicians, is offering onsite FDA EUA rapid testing, as well as lab-based nuclear PCR testing, the news release said.
Hawaiian Airlines announced this month plans to offer drive-thru COVID-19 tests beginning in labs near Los Angeles International and San Francisco airports. The cost is $90 for PCR testing with 36-hour results or day-of-travel results for $150.
United Airlines said earlier this month that it will offer testing for flyers out of San Francisco International. United said it will use a rapid, 15-minute test administered by GoHealth Urgent Care at the airport, which will cost $250, CNN reported.
The network reported that a self-test option by United was not accepted by the state of Hawaii.