Emirates Adds Coronavirus Test Requirement For Passengers

Out of interest, what’s the gap between being infected and a positive test result? We keep hearing about symptoms taking 2-14 days to emerge but I don’t think I’ve read anywhere about the gap between infection and showing a positive test result (before symptoms show up, if they ever do).

Good luck with that, I’m still waiting on my results from June 29th here in San Mateo County (Home of SFO)

Travel from the following countries will be subjected to this new requirement:

Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Egypt
India
Iran
Nigeria
Pakistan
Philippines
Russian Federation
Sudan
Tanzania
USA

How proud the Trumpists must be - look at that exclusive list of five-star countries we're in! Very special company we keep. But... no love for Brazil?

So much winning!

@Dick Bupkiss
If you think that all the 'Trumpists; are so stupid, than you should be happy that they are now effectively quarantined thanks to COVID-19(84) and can't spread their worldview around other countries.

"Out of interest, what’s the gap between being infected and a positive test result?" It takes a few days at least. Like 1 to 3 days before showing symptoms. With asymptomatic people the chances of a false negative increases. False positives are fairly rare, but false negatives can be rather frequent depending on the test and the way its conducted. Its not a bad idea but its not going to catch all the cases until we get better tests.

This will simply mean that people will stop using Emirates flights

E.g. in Karachi Pakistan, a city of 2p million people, Emirates has specified only ONE lab as the one they'll accept results from. Clearly not a sustainable option.

The result is everyone I know is cancelling their Emirates flight and using Qatar or Turkish instead.

@B:
.... you must know a lot of people?!
(especially those, who like to take risks rather then be on the safe side if a test is a burden for safer travel!)
If i want to fly to the US, i constantly need to invest first in a stupid thing called ESTA!
It still doesn’t hold me (sorry, did not!) back from flying where i want to go.

I am wondering how one is supposed to get results within 72, 96 hrs etc.... most testing centers around the country are taking longer than that. I post talking about this would be very helpful

Surprising they introduced this with almost no notice!
Good luck to the passengers flying tomorrow or in the next days from these countries on EK...

Do folks know of actual testing locations in California, Texas, and Florida that provide tests for foreign nationals (I'm stuck in the USA) with such quick turnaround times?

Most places seem to require a doctor's referral.

I won't bother flying emirates until their cabin no longer looks like I'm being wheeled into surgery.

This is no good in countries like India and Pakistan where one can send their servant to get tested and get a lab to issue a certificate on demand.

All theatre.

USA! USA! USA! THIS IS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST AMERICANS!

@bruno there’s barely any. Contrary to what the news is saying my friends at EK are saying load factors are around 25% if any. Stay home and stay safe - what rubbish news to post here. Emirates is firing thousands of staff yet this is what the discussion is about?

It is not possible to get test results in the US for a molecular RT-PCR test from a CLIA qualified lab in 96 hours, which is what Emirates is requiring, as is Hawaiian Air (in 72 hours). It normally takes 6 days minimum to get test results, not 3 or 4 days.

@peetyrd: my test result was back within 19 hours. Got tested @ 7 pm and the result was texted to me by 2 pm the next day

Thanks to the ignorant people who are still spreading the virus in the states, the US is part of this illustrious group! Just simply embarrasing!

Crazy solution this is!

There will be virtually no PAX from Kabul where I am based. There are 000’s of military contractors waiting to leave the country eight no prospect of a PCR test being completed. I have a ticket for 9th August and hope this rule is dropped by then. Turkish Airlines will see their seats go up from Kabul and Emirates will see a drop for sure!

@Dick Bupkiss If I had to guess I would say maybe they don't fly from Brazil? No legitimate reason why brazil would be excluded from that list otherwise.

Fyi...Its not the airline introducing all the restrictions and requirements its the uea goverment...

@Dick Bupkiss +1. So embarrassing.

@Anna - it is Emirates the Airline that has introduced this, not the UAE government.

Emirates explained that quite clearly to me when they advised me i could use the national Afghan carrier to come to Dubai from Kabul and then take Emirates to Manchester.

No other airline has this restriction for entering Dubai other than Emirates and its sister airline FlyDubai.

Specifically, passengers will have to carry a negative PCR certificate issued by a local government approved laboratory to be accepted on the flight, and the test certificate must be issued no more than 96 hours before departure.

I think this is the right way to go, personally I feel very exposed travelling in an enclosed space with another 200+ untested passengers.. I also think airlines have a duty of care to passengers and the country they are taking them in to, to minimize the risk of spreading the virus. I hope other airlines will do the same.