Flying in the age of coronavirus comes packed with uncertainty about the health status of fellow travelers. Now, Florida's Tampa International Airport is running a pilot program that offers on-the-spot COVID-19 tests for travelers.
With more than 120 people participating in the optional testing per day, Joe Lopano, Tampa International Airport CEO, said the program is showing promising results.
"We've had some customers who have tested positive and Baycare, the healthcare professionals, have a discussion with that passenger and tell them that they should not continue on their way and passengers have accepted it," Lopano told Cheddar.
The airport offers two tests, the $125 PCR nasal swab, which usually takes 3 to 4 days to yield results, and the $50 rapid Antigen test. The cost of both tests, Lopano said, can be covered by insurance companies if travelers provide a receipt from the airport.
Testing at the airport, according to Lopano, will not have much impact on overall travel time. In fact, those not checking a bag only need to account for an additional 30 minutes as a cushion, he added.
"It's immediate testing. Sometimes you have to wait in a short line. You'll get your results in 15 minutes, so it really is not a very time-consuming function and it's very convenient," Lopano said.
While other airports have implemented testing for specific destinations, Lopano said Tampa is the first to offer widespread testing for passengers on all flights arriving and departing. The pilot program is likely to continue running through the holiday season as the number of participants and customer satisfaction is assessed.
For Lopano, offering a testing site at the airport is not only maintaining passenger safety but can also help revitalize a struggling travel industry that is fighting to get customers off the ground.
"It's a high priority because we need to do whatever we can to create confidence in the travel experience and now that widespread testing is available, the technology is available, what better way to do that than right at the airport," he said.
Melissa Snover, Founder & CEO of Nourished, joins Cheddar Innovates to discuss her one-of-a-kind business that offers customizable, 3D printed vitamins that offer less hassle, cost, and waste than traditional vitamins.
Stocks closed higher Thursday as investors focused on big tech earnings, including a strong report from Facebook parent company Meta. The movement was largely led higher by the tech sector, and the Nasdaq saw gains after recent volatility. However, the index is still on pace for its worst month since March 2020. Stuart Kaiser, Head of Global Equity Derivatives Research at UBS, joins Closing Bell to discuss today's close, the Federal Reserve's plan to tackle inflation, and more.
Mental health platform Real recently raised $37 million in a Series B round led by Owl Ventures. Through its mobile app, Real says it provides mental health care at a lower cost than traditional therapy and aims to make mental wellness a part of everyone's daily routine. The company also announced that U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe will serve as an adviser to the company. Ariela Safira, Founder & CEO of Real, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
It’s NFL draft night! A former defensive end for the Dolphins, Bears, and Texans Wale Ogunleye joined Cheddar News to talk about which rookies-to-be the NFL teams will be picking and also discuss the impact of the pandemic on the incoming players. "I do think having the ability to stay at school maybe a year or two longer, and it may be getting your adulthood going, it might help out a lot, but again, it's a different animal in that locker room," he said. Ogunleye, who also heads sports and entertainment at the financial firm UBS, also talked about providing financial literacy education and advice for young athletes.
Overstock.com CEO Jonathan Johnson joined Cheddar News to discuss the company's Q1 earnings miss as the internet retailer saw a 19 percent drop in sales since 2019. "Consumer sentiment got pretty soft. Despite that we were able to manage expenses, make money beat on the bottom line," he said regarding headwinds like inflation, gas prices, and the war in Ukraine. "But I think, look, e-commerce is here to stay. It's here to stay for the home space."
The all-women founders of the infused tequila brand 21Seeds Kat Hantas, Sarika Singh, and Nicole Emmanuel joined Cheddar News to talk about the recent acquisition of their company by the alcoholic beverage giant Diageo, gaining "world domination" in the tequila market, and enhancing Cinco de Mayo cocktails with their product. "If you want to lighten it up and you're looking for an RTD alternative, like one of those ready to drink alternatives, you can make that at home," said Hantas.
