Checking into the resort offering Covid tests on arrival

The resort has considered every stage of the guest experience, and offers airport transfers in a “Covid-secure” sanitised vehicle with a screen between passengers and driver, hygiene kits are handed out, and wearing of face masks is mandatory. Drivers are also regularly checked by the resort's medical team.

On arrival at Forte Village, all guests are given a temperature check, before being ushered to a private lounge surrounded by foliage for a finger-prick IGM/IGG Covid-19 antibody test administered by a doctor. This takes about one minute to carry out, followed by a six-minute wait for the result. If it is negative, guests can leave the reception, remove their face mask and get started with their holiday.

Anyone whose antibody test is positive is accompanied to a special area for a further molecular PCR test, which indicates whether a person has the virus.

If this then proves negative, the guest proceeds normally with their holiday. If it’s positive and they are able to stay at the resort they will be accommodated in a dedicated area until they test negative to two consecutive molecular tests within 24 hours.

It should be noted that as it takes some days for an individual with the virus to develop antibodies, the “stage one” test will not detect whether a person is in the early stages of having it.

However, Forte Village says the testing combined with a visual check by the doctor carrying it out (who can decide to perform the molecular swab regardless the result of the antibody test if they suspect symptoms) and other mitigating measures, means “the risk of contagion is minimised”.

Anyone entering Sardinia – which has maintained low Covid-19 rates throughout the pandemic – also has to declare they have no Covid-related symptoms and have not been in contact with people who have tested positive in the 10 days before prior to travel; there is criminal liability for false claims.

The Sardinian government has also banned visitors from countries it deems to be high risk.

A further measure is ensuring luggage is sanitised before being delivered to guests’ rooms and there are many other steps across the sizeable resort, which includes eight separate four- and five-star hotels, 13 villas and 40 suites.