ISRAEL TO OFFER CORONAVIRUS TESTING AT AIRPORT

Mask-clad Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is shown a demonstration of a coronavirus swab sampling at a booth during the inauguration of a COVID-19 coronavirus rapid testing centre at Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod on November 9, 2020. - Netanyahu inaugurated the rapid coronavirus testing centre at Israel's main international airport, meant to ease travel in and out of the country. The new set-up allows travellers to give a sample at the terminal and have it analysed at an on-site lab, with the result ready in 5 1/2 to six hours as the traveller waits, costing 135 shekels ($40). (Photo by ATEF SAFADI / POOL / AFP)

Israel will soon offer coronavirus testing at its main international airport, something authorities hope will speed the revival of air travel. Passengers at Ben Gurion International Airport will be able to pay around $13 for a test and get results within 14 hours, with faster testing methods on offer in the coming weeks.

Authorities say labs at the airport will be able to process 20,000 tests per day. Passengers can register starting Thursday and the testing booths open Sunday.

Visiting the facility on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it can “help us get back to a better, quicker and more efficient aviation routine,” adding that “we want to renew Israel’s link to the world.”

Israel is gradually emerging from its second nationwide lockdown since the pandemic began. The country has reported nearly 320,000 cases, including 2,674 deaths.

An earlier lockdown last spring largely succeeded in containing the outbreak, but cases surged over the summer after authorities reopened too quickly. At one point, Israel, with a population of just 9 million, had one of the world’s worst outbreaks on a per capita basis.

Authorities plan to gradually ease restrictions over several weeks following the second lockdown, which began in mid-September and was partially lifted last month.