The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) this week announced that Doctors Test Centers (DTC), in connection with Simple Laboratories, has been selected to operate a new and robust COVID-19 testing program at both O’Hare (ORD) and Midway International (MDW) airports that will begin later this month.
ORD will feature both a walk-up, pre-security testing site adjacent to the terminal core, as well as a drive-up site in a remote parking lot. DTC will also be setting up a walk-up testing site in the terminal at MDW.
DTC will be hiring more than 100 people for a variety of testing and customer support roles at the airport sites that will provide both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and rapid antigen tests.
“The Chicago Department of Aviation is proud to present the most comprehensive COVID-19 testing program of any airport system in the nation,” said Jamie Rhee, CDA commissioner. “With two types of tests available at both airports, as well as our strict adherence to public health guidelines requiring face coverings and social distancing throughout the terminals, we aim to provide the traveling public and the wider airport community with a safe environment and peace of mind.”
Last month, CDA issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking a vendor to provide COVID-19 testing for passengers and employees at both airports. The proposal by DTC, with technical assistance to be provided by Simple Laboratories, was selected after narrowing down a list of qualified candidates.
