Review: Frankfurt Airport's Free Coronavirus Testing

This is not a bad way of going about it at all. Really impressed by the time it takes for the result to come back. Only drawback is testing negative, in case the virus was picked up during travel. If there was a way to quarantine on arrival, then testing on Day 4, followed by no quarantine if negative test, then that would potentially be safer without having to wait 14 days like in UK.

@Ben, here is the list in English - https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Transport/Archiv_Risikogebiete/Risikogebiete_25092020_en.pdf?__blob=publicationFile. You might want to update the link in the main article.

Great! But what happens if you test asymptomatic positive?

Sorry but you are agreeing to take part in a company's private research. They should make that clear when you agree to it but appears you only find out once you've agreed to be a participant.

Let’s be realistic... a Covid test, used to “allow” certain activities based on a negative result, is completely useless unless it detects the virus in the early stages of development.

Current wisdom is that the viral load is not visible to these Covid tests until 3-6 days after exposure. By this time the virus is being spread by the carrier.

There are very few solid reasons for travelling just now. Do us all a favour and stay home and enjoy your loved ones. The virus problem will be over al lot quicker this day.

So this test is in the Squaire, which is landside post-immigration.

Is it just the honor system? In other words, you with your German passport coming from a high-risk country tell the immigration officer "we're getting tested at the airport location." What's stopping you from then just skipping the test and going about the country?

Unfortunately the quarantine rules will change in mid of October requiring at least 5 days of quarantine, even when getting tested.

@Ben: Your article says "we". Did the other person you travelled with also have DE passport?

Is there a way to get tested at FRA while you’re in-transit?

(US passport holder trying to go to Croatia)

5 day quarantine arriving in Frankfurt from U.K. on 16th October????
I've only got 2 days before returning to the UK so I guess I'll have to cancel the trip?

@AlliW, German nationals and VERY CLOSE RELATIVES (in this case Ben's husband) can visit Germany with no problems.

Seems odd that they let you walk through the whole airport and travel out into the city, presumably by train, before getting any results.

@traveller Ben is there to be with his mom, so this is not some typical tourist trip if you read his other article. Given what is currently happening in Florida his Mom really made the right call by moving to Germany and its smart that he and Ford got out before it gets way worse in Florida.

I did the Centogene Test early August, the expedited one for euro 139 I think, coming off the same MIA flight. Lines for testing were much longer then but the paid version gives you a fast track line, all was done quickly. Since I had 6 hrs to kill anyway and no lounges were open then, I got a day room at one of the hotels located in the same complex, Hilton garden inn. When I woke up from my nap I had an email asking me to log in to my account to see result. All seamless, hi tech and easy, way way better than in the US, Miami at least.

Hi Ben, thank you so much for this review. My family is German, and we've been living in the U.S. for the last 9 years. My parents still live in Germany, so not unlike your situation we're about to move back by the end of the month. Likely long term, in our case.
Your review was just what we needed, as it's scary to expect the deep nasal swab for the kids (3/7) and I'm so glad to read that they do a throat swab. Thank you!

@ Greg Just to clarify, if you are a U.S. passport holder, you can't get tested here. (unless you are there under one of the conditions listed) Ben is a dual passport holder of US and Germany. It is located in a place where you have to go through passport control. Not available for transit passengers. Turkey is the best place to get an in-transit test on the way to Croatia as US citizens are allowed to enter and transit there. Just did it a month ago.

We were supposed to visit Germany this month.
FRA DRESDEN LEIPZIG BERLIN
Oh well .. next year then, I guess
Or perhaps 2023/24 :/

Thanks for the post Ben, you answered my question in the last post.

It is very good for those who have had the coronavirus, as this way there is no risk of having a positive test and there are no extra expenses on the trip.

“Peer -
Unfortunately the quarantine rules will change in mid of October requiring at least 5 days of quarantine, even when getting tested.”

@Peer
You mention the new rules on five day quarantine regardless of testing starting in mid October. I read that it was from 1 October in the media but have not seen anything on official websites. Is this now mid October? I have the opposite issue to Lucky with family in NY that I am keen to visit from Germany. I would like to go before the new rules start if I can!

There is a little known walk up free public testing site in miami with no line and quick results in about 24 hrs in the Salvation Army parking lot off of Flagler and 21 st.

@traveller - "Current wisdom is that the viral load is not visible to these Covid tests until 3-6 days after exposure. By this time the virus is being spread by the carrier."

Well, yes. There won't ever be a test that can tell you that you have a virus instantaneously after exposure. It takes some amount of time for any virus to replicate in your body enough to show up on any kind of test. It also takes some amount of time to become infectious. And third, it takes some amount of time for your body to mount a response, which manifests as symptoms (like a cough, fever, etc).

No test will catch 100% of infections with perfect accuracy, at all times. But we can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. A PCR or antigen covid test during or shortly before or after travel from one area to another will help catch a lot of potential infections. And if you test everyone on a plane, where all names and seating locations are known, it makes it very easy to contact trace if some other passenger tests positive.

This kind of testing scheme strikes a good balance between safety and ability to travel. We simply can't put all travel on hold until the virus no longer exists, or until there's a vaccine... because that may take years, or perhaps never. Most human viruses have never been eliminated, and those that have took decades of work. Vaccines don't create perfect safety either, they only help decrease spread and create herd immunity faster. A rational, frequent, inexpensive testing scheme to allow for travel and economic activity like this is really important and a net positive for everyone.

I am sure it is personal preference, but if the throat swab is anything similar to what is done to collect a specimen for strep - I'll choose the nasal method all day long!! I was sick and had the Covid test and strep test done at the same visit - I gagged so bad on the throat swab I nearly puked on the person taking it!

@Reed: “We simply can’t put all travel on hold until the virus no longer exists”

You acknowledge that tests won’t pick up anything until 3-6 days after exposure. Wouldn’t the “good balance” then be a 3-6 day quarantine instead of 14 days, rather than crossing your fingers that travelers didn’t pick up something a couple days before?

I am a US citizen. Can i enter Germany to see my girlfriend? thinking about booking flight mid November.

How are you sure "transit Passenger" don't need to offer PCR test... From Germany's website shows "This does not apply if the person only "travelled through" a risk area without spending time there." Actually this is kind of confusing...

I am Taiwanese. Taiwan is non risk country to UAE and Germany. From restrictions, I don't need to offer PCR test to Germany and Dubai. But my problem is I will fly from Taiwan to Germany, and transit in Dubai. I don't know if I need to offer PCR test just because I "transit in Dubai"... because UAE is high risk country to Germany. I don't know if "transiting" is considered spending time there or not..

Any update on the change of rules on October 15th? I am flying beginning of November and would need to change flight dates if 5 days quarantine are required regardless.

Hello, Ben & all commentators,
if I am flying from Frankfurt to Dallas-Los Angeles, for American Airlines, this weekend,
Do I need to have Coronavirus test results or go without it? please.

Thanks
Kadr

What happens if i am coming from Poland (which from the 24th October is a high-risk country) and am only transiting through the airport, do i need to get a negative covid test?

Great read! I am transferring through FRA enroute to Rome in early January. What was your experience of going through passport control? Was it quick? Thanks!