Vending Machines That Offer COVID-19 Tests, Coming to a Hotel Near You
More than 500,000 people have died in the U.S. as a result of COVID-19. A recent study found that COVID-19 has killed 100,000 people in the past five weeks. And was the leading cause of death in the U.S. in January, with the number of deaths surpassing those resulting from cancer and heart disease. According to Johns Hopkins University, an average of 2,000 people die daily as a result of COVID-19. Testing has become more convenient and can help to identify infected individuals before they travel.
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COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Now Require Negative Test Results for Air Travel
COVID-19 travel restrictions have been put in place in an effort to combat the spread of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now require that all passengers traveling to the U.S. from foreign countries show proof of a negative COVID-19 test in order to enter the country. Travelers must get tested no more than 3 days prior to their departure and must present either a negative COVID-19 test result or show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or immunity in order to travel. Currently the CDC does not require COVID-19 tests for people traveling within the U.S. but that could change in the near future.
COVID-19 Tests Vending Machines
The COVID-19 pandemic has led Wellness 4 Humanity to create vending machines that provide COVID-19 test kits that can be purchased. The company has partnered with major hotel Brands, such as Marriott and IHG Hotels and Resorts, as well as professional sports teams in an effort to distribute their vending machines. Currently customers can purchase COVID-19 tests from 2 vending machines in the Herald Square and Penn Station area of 34th street in Manhattan. The vending machines are also available at each of the terminals of the Oakland International Airport in California. The company plans to distribute these vending machines to other major airports, hotels and subway stations, to entertainment venues, college campuses, grocery stores and shopping malls. Wellness 4 Humanity plans to distribute 1,000 more of its vending machines throughout the U.S in the upcoming months. For $15,000, businesses can secure a 6-month lease for a vending machine that includes test kits, delivery and set up and software integration.
How Do COVID-19 Tests Vending Machines Work?
The vending machines dispense RT-PCR Saliva tests that have been approved for emergency use by the FDA and have been proven to be 99.99% accurate. Customers can purchase the COVID-19 tests from vending machines for $149 and the cost is reimbursable through health insurance. These machines use contactless technology to offer payment options for mobile devices. Once customers purchase their testing kits from the company website, a QR code is then emailed to them and customers can scan the code into the vending machine and collect their testing kits. Users will receive a return shipping label and shipping box to mail out their test samples. Once the lab tests have been completed, customers will receive results digitally within 48 hours. Wellness 4 Humanity is also working to make the rapid antigen COVID-19 test available through its vending machines. The antigen test gives results within 15 minutes and does not require a lab test, the test cost $120 and is 97.4% accurate.
COVID-19 Travel Recommendations From the CDC
- Get tested 3-5 days after travel and stay home and self-quarantine for 7 days after travel.
- Even if you test negative for COVID-19, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days.
- If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
- If you don’t get tested, it’s safest to stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
- Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.
Benefits for Hotels
A vending machine that offers Covid-19 testing, alongside the many touchless hotel technology would be highly beneficial for the Hotel Industry, as it would help to quickly identify those infected and help to prevent the spread of the virus. Guests can enjoy their hotel experience knowing that all safety measures are being taken by the hotel. Currently the CDC does not require proof of a negative COVID-19 test in order to take domestic flights, but there is a possibility that testing could be required sometime in the future. These vending machines provide Americans with easy access to COVID-19 testing, that can be performed at home, at hotels or in transit and gives highly accurate results within days and in the near future test results will be available within minutes.