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In a little over a week from now, the U.S. travel ban will finally come to an end when, on November 8, a new “travel system” launches. In addition to allowing millions of vaccinated international travelers to enter, the new system will also, according to a new report from USA Today, make reentry more difficult for unvaccinated U.S. citizens, as well as permanent residents, by implementing stricter testing requirements.
“For anyone traveling to the United States who cannot demonstrate proof of full vaccination, they will have to produce documentation of a negative test within one day of departure,” the White House said in a statement. Currently, travelers are required to provide proof of a negative test within three days of departure — a regulation that will remain in place for those who are vaccinated.
At one point in the not-so-distant past, the prospect of having to attain a negative Covid test result in a foreign country, the day before your departure, would have been downright anxiety inducing. But now that rapid home tests are available on Amazon, it’s a little less so — and just in time, too.
Per a report from Fast Company, Becton Dickinson and Co. began selling its rapid Veritor antigen tests on Amazon this past week. The Veritor test kit, much like Intrivo, utilizes an app which promises accurate results in just 15 minutes. It contains two tests and retails for $26.50. The app, for its part, also supports numerous individual profiles (ideal for families), provides a video tutorial that coaches users through from beginning to end and later logs results.
“BD CEO Tom Polen outlines three things the technology can address, starting with whether users sample themselves correctly; if the test doesn’t detect a human sample, then the app won’t deliver a result,” Ruth Reader wrote. “Second, BD’s test doesn’t require the person taking the test to interpret their test strip. Third, he says, is conveying the results safely and accurately.”
“There are several other ways the app attempts to preempt user error. It makes you conduct a lighting test beforehand to make sure there’s enough light in the room to capture a clear image of your test strip,” she continued. “It also runs timers to ensure you are stirring your sample and allowing your test strip to develop for the right amount of time.”
In effect, the test is all but fool-proof. Having just traveled to a little-known region in Catalonia, Spain, where I relied heavily on the results from my at-home Covid test to get me home again, I can confirm as much. In fact, moving forward, you’d be hard pressed to find me anywhere without an extra stashed in my carry-on.
From start to finish, assuming you’ve already downloaded the app and created a profile, it’s quick and entirely alleviates the stress of having to track down a testing site and secure results in time for your departure.
Amazon at-home Covid tests? The hottest travel accessory of ’22. You heard it here first.
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