Japan’s Narita International Airport has opened a PCR testing facility for travellers departing to international destinations.
This move comes as it takes steps to reopen international travel, which was stopped for several months in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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The new coronavirus testing facility is operated by Nippon Medical School Foundation.
The on-the-spot facility is expected to help passengers who are required to submit proof of testing negative for coronavirus in their overseas destinations.
Narita International Airport PCR centre will carry out the tests with the combination of the fully automated gene analysis system called Genecube, which uses RT-PCR and the real-time RT-PCR-based SARS-CoV-2 detection kit.
The lab will deliver results in six hours until the end of November, following which the time is expected to be reduced to two hours.
However, the tests are not covered under insurance and can cost as much as $444.
On 30 October, Japan eased travel restrictions to nine Asian countries.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Japan imposed travel restrictions and a ban on entry of travellers from more than 150 countries.
It began undertaking a phased relaxation of the travel restriction in September.
Travellers arriving in the country need to undergo a coronavirus test.
