WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. (WTIC Radio)—A new drive-through COVID-19 testing site is being set up at Bradley International Airport through a partnership between the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) and Hartford HealthCare.
Launching Monday, November 23, the site will offer testing daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the airport's Parking Lot 3 on Schoephoester Road.
According to CAA Executive Director Kevin Dillon, the new testing site will help increase traffic at Bradley Airport.
The travel and tourism industry continues to struggle with the travel advisories across states, Dillon said, but a testing option for travelers helps.
"That's why a month and a half ago we introduced testing here at Bradley Airport," Dillon said during a news briefing Wednesday.
The COVID-19 testing site in the terminal has become popular, Dillon said, but it is only open to flyers.
The drive-through testing site will be open for both passengers and the public, Dillon said.
No pre-registration or doctor's order is required to obtain a COVID-19 test at the new location, according to officials. Administering the test will take less than five minutes and results are provided within 72 hours, officials said.
As for billing, officials said it will be handled through insurance. Massachusetts residents can use this site for testing as well.
With the holidays approaching, Hartford HealthCare President and CEO Jeffrey Flaks said the new site is addressing a critical need in Connecticut.
"The addition of this site at Bradley International will vastly expand testing capabilities and offer more convenience for residents in the northern part of our state, as well as passengers at the airport," Flaks said.
According to Hartford HealthCare officials, Bradley Airport is the health care system's ninth COVID-19 testing location.
Testing is an important element, Dillon said, as the world adjusts to a new way of traveling.
