NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / January 11, 2023 / More than 2 years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans can’t wait to get back to normal life.
This doesn’t just mean a return to work and school: perhaps just as importantly, it also means a return to recreation. Several innovative partnerships enable Quest to help people safely return to the activities they love. Here are some examples.
Quest plays a key role in the return of the oldest marathon in the world
After being canceled for the first time in its 124-year history due to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, runners were once again able to participate in the 2021 Boston Marathon. and security challenges. As part of protocol mandated by the Boston Athletic Association (BAA), 10,000 athletes, as well as organizers, volunteers and staff, were required to show either proof of vaccination or a current negative test for COVID-19 within 72 hours of the race. .
At BAA’s request, Quest has been selected to be the only on-site testing provider offering COVID-19 testing. To ensure this large scale of testing, Quest employees were specially trained to work at the start point of the race as registration representatives, sample collection observers, examiners, supervisors and support staff, playing a key role in providing a safer environment for runners, staff, and volunteers alike.
“Quest’s participation in the Boston Marathon was crucial. Without providing a safe environment for the runners, the Boston Athletic Association would not be able to run this historic race. It brings tears to my eyes when I think of the extraordinary work and effort our Quest Diagnostics team undertook to conduct this testing event. “
Gillian Plummer Director, Product Management, Sports Diagnostics
Safe return to the open sea
In mid-March 2020, the CDC issued a “no-sailing order” for cruise ships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It wasn’t until more than a year later, in the summer of 2021, that the CDC allowed cruise ships to resume operations.
Ensuring a safe return to cruise ships required establishing health and safety best practices.
As part of these efforts, Quest Diagnostics has partnered with Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean, the 2 largest cruise lines in the US, to make pre-boarding COVID-19 testing more accessible and convenient for guests, offering the security of a trusted national laboratory supplier.
Regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, all cruise passengers must present a negative COVID-19 test result 2-3 days prior to boarding. In establishing their program, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Quest recognized the importance of testing passengers before they arrive at their ports – thereby avoiding port congestion and the expense and frustration that could result from receiving positive COVID-19 tests at port, preventing guests from yes boarding allowed.
Instead, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Quest testing programs help simplify pre-cruise preparation. Offering travelers the convenience of receiving quality COVID-19 testing close to home, the program makes testing available at more than 2,200 Quest Diagnostics patient service centers and select Walmart locations, Giant Eagle drive-throughs and other retail pharmacies across the US. .
Return to “tennis paradise”
Referred to by the tennis community as “tennis paradise,” the BNP Paribas Tennis Open is a men’s and women’s professional tennis tournament in Indian Wells, CA, traditionally held in March. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers have canceled the 2020 tournament and moved it to October 6-17, 2021, turning to Quest for help.
A safe return to the courts and fields required multiple efforts. Quest staff registered all tournament participants and visitors and collected PCR and antigen samples (resulting in >4,500 samples) from everyone in attendance, including world-class players, coaches, family members, international media, tournament officials, and even a VIP tennis legend world champion Billie Jean King. Quest employees tested antigen samples directly on site and provided results in less than 20 minutes. They also sent PCR samples daily to Quest’s lab in San Juan Capistrano, CA.
This was the third world-class tennis event in 2021 for which Quest served as a testing laboratory for the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) – as part of its ongoing commitment to creating innovative partnerships to improve health, safety and well-being in all segments of life.
Our continued safe return to all we love
As we learn to live with the ongoing challenges of COVID-19 and its endemic presence, Quest will continue to develop innovative partnerships to help us all safely return to the recreational activities that are such an important part of our lives.
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SOURCE: Quest Diagnostics
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