Photo Credit: covid-negative-stamp-Balint-Radu-AdobeStock_395989359
This new industry startup wants to offer more peace of mind when holding an in-person gathering. For small events taking place in the New York City tri-state area and in South Florida, The Event Doc will bring the Covid-19 testing to you, using the BD Veritor antigen test and the Abbott Labs ID Now test.
"Both are designed to detect a high load of the Covid virus," says Event Doc president Steve Paster, who is also founder of Alpine Creative Group and past president of the International Live Events Association's New York chapter. "We had one positive test at an event in West Palm recently, so we are confident that it detects people who are more likely to transmit the virus." The person who tested positive was sent home, and a close colleague also left; the person who tested positive also came up positive on a follow-up PCR test.
For $7,500, the Concierge package includes:
• 50 guests tested on-site;
• an on-site doctor CLIA-certified in antigen and molecular testing (CLIA is the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988);
• two on-site technicians;
• three molecular- or antigen-testing machines;
• one on-site staff manager; and
• all necessary signage and social-distancing icons.
Additional guests can be tested for $120 each, and further charges are added for events outside of New York and Florida. Extra testing also can be arranged; for instance, for an additional $1,500, 5 tests can be run simultaneously or 20 tests per hour. A satellite-testing area also can be set up.