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Gerald R. Ford International Airport one of the first in the nation offering COVID-19 testing

Gerald R. Ford International Airport logo
Gerald R. Ford International Airport

The Ford International Airport is partnering TACKL Health providing COVID-19 testing to travelers. No appointment, doctor’s referral or symptoms are necessary at the drive-thru testing site.

“Many of our business travelers in particular, now are required to have a negative COVID test before they can go into certain markets. In particular, international destinations.”

Stephen Clark is director of business development for the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. He tells us TACKL is offering two tests; a rapid antigen test providing results in 15 minutes and a molecular PCR test – the nasal swab - delivering results in 24 to 48 hours. Those COVID tests are available to both airport travelers and the general public.

“Really for us it was a natural fit, right. We have the great resource of the airport, its central location very close to most individuals in the region and doing it in a drive-thru as well takes you out of that clinical environment.”

TACKL Health has been testing at scale with collegiate athletics and the film industry.

TACKL Health is not currently accept health insurance. The rapid antigen test costs $75, the PCR test is $125. When taken together its $160.

Patrick joined WGVU Public Media in December, 2008 after eight years of investigative reporting at Grand Rapids' WOOD-TV8 and three years at WYTV News Channel 33 in Youngstown, Ohio. As News and Public Affairs Director, Patrick manages our daily radio news operation and public interest television programming. An award-winning reporter, Patrick has won multiple Michigan Associated Press Best Reporter/Anchor awards and is a three-time Academy of Television Arts & Sciences EMMY Award winner with 14 nominations.