New Covid-19 Testing Provider, TACKL Health, Begins Service at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

A new COVID-19 testing site at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) can provide travelers, visitors, and airport staff with their results, delivered to their phone, in as little as 15 minutes. TACKL Health, which specializes in rapid mobilization for large-scale testing in locations nationwide, begins daily operations at CLE this month, offering polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid antigen tests. The new testing site is located on the ticketing level, near the information desk, and is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.

As more destinations require travelers to show proof of being tested for COVID-19, TACKL Health provides an extra layer of assurance, access, and ease. "Throughout this pandemic, our focus has been on enhanced health and safety measures to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. With a dedicated testing facility at CLE, TACKL Health helps this effort through early detection," says Tina LaForte, vice president of Fraport Cleveland, developer of the airport's concessions program.

TACKL Health licensed healthcare professionals to administer the tests in four private sanitized rooms. Those wishing to get tested can schedule an appointment in advance by scanning a QR code and on a walk-in basis. The cost for the rapid antigen test is $95, $135 for the PCR test, or $175 for both. PCR test results arrive via email or a text message in 48 to 72 hours and rapid antigen test results take 15 minutes.

"We are committed to providing Cleveland Hopkins with solutions for the fight against COVID-19 so that people can reunite with loved ones," says Lauren Hetzel, co-founder and vice president of business development of TACKL Health. "We have quickly expanded from our initial hub in Savannah and conduct thousands of COVID-19 tests a week in multiple cities nationwide. With the expansion to airports, our goal is to be part of the solution in bringing people back together."

According to the CDC, testing before and after travel can reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. In Ohio, visitors and residents are advised to self-quarantine for 14 days after travel to states reporting positive testing rates of 15% or higher for COVID-19.

"Airports and airlines worldwide are increasingly launching on-site testing facilities as part of a layered approach to mitigate the spread of COVID-19," says Cleveland Hopkins International Airport Director Robert Kennedy. "With TACKL Health, passengers, guests, and employees at the airport have a fast, convenient, and effective solution that can also bring some peace of mind."

When used with other public health measures – everyday precautions such as wearing face coverings and social distancing can make travel safer by reducing spread in airports, on planes, and at destinations.