Rapid testing at airport suggested to attract visitors

Although the island continues to battle the virus, the Guam International Airport Authority and Guam Customs are continuing the planning and preparations for the eventual return of tourists.

Guam's Customs & Quarantine recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the Guam Visitors Bureau and the University of Guam to secure digitized customs forms. Guam Customs Chief Ike Peredo says the process is currently being developed and is hoping to see the digitized forms in place within the next few months.

 “We're trying to get away from the actual hard copy declaration forms and just have the passengers do a paperless process when they come in,” he said.

Meanwhile, Airport Executive Manager John Quinata says that the airport is constantly looking at ways to attract visitors back to the island. One of the courses of action being taken is having COVID testing conducted at the airport.

 “We have looked at the different types of machines that will be used. We've looked at the footprint of what square footage requirements they need and what electrical requirements they need, what water requirements they need,” he said.

Quinata says they’re ready to execute, but just need to finalize what type of process Public Health and the Physicans Advisory Group will recommend to the governor.

"But the best way to do that is of course if we have a rapid testing that is done where that passengers come in and within 15 minutes that they'll get their test result back and whether they're positive or negative," he says.

Quinata says it's up to public health to decide who would be administering the rapid test kits. Though he says he recommends a private contractor.

“That way they can alleviate public health to continue doing their contact tracing out in the general public,” he said.