Coronavirus: Emirates uses blood tests on passengers before boarding

Emirates has started using rapid coronavirus testing on passengers before boarding in a world first that may signal things to come.

Blood tests may be coming to an airport near you.

The coronavirus pandemic has definitely had an impact on the airline industry — airlines have taken steps to reduce the spread of the virus, including having passengers wear masks, altering the way planes are boarded and enforcing social distancing on the plane.

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One airline just introduced a new step – blood testing passengers before the flight.

Emirates Airline used a rapid testing procedure on passengers on a flight from Dubai to Tunisia, Fox News reports. The type of testing used reportedly involved drawing blood and was able to provide results within 10 minutes.

According Bloomberg, Emirates is the first airline to perform a test of this kind.

Emirates has become the first airline to conduct on-site rapid COVID-19 tests for passengers. The health and safety of our passengers and employees is of paramount importance, and will not be compromised. @DXB @DHA_Dubai #FlyEmiratesFlyBetter #COVID_19 #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/c443NU6bvA

— Emirates Airline (@emirates) April 15, 2020

Chief operating officer Adel Al Redha said that there were plans to start using these tests on other flights to benefit customers travelling to countries that require COVID-19 certificates.

Other airlines have also made changes in response to the outbreak.

Fox News previously reported that Delta Air Lines revised its boarding process to a back-to-front system to encourage better social distancing.

Passengers are tested with rapid COVID-19 blood tests before a flight from Dubai to Tunisia. Picture: Emirates

The process is exactly what it sounds like. As opposed to the passengers sitting in the front of the plane boarding first, travellers with seats in the rear boarded first. This was implemented to reduce the instances of passengers having to pass by others to reach their seats.

This procedure will reportedly be in operation until at least May 31, although the policy will likely be adjusted or extended depending on the latest developments in the coronavirus outbreak.

This article originally appeared on Fox News and was reproduced with permission