Concern over the Corona virus and medical quarantine on China and other East Asian countries has led to a significant 40% reduction in world travelers

• Passengers with masks at airports

  Photo:

  Coco

The number of companies that stopped flying to China rose to 54 yesterday (Sunday). International airports are conducting a superficial examination of the landing passengers, which is mainly a body heat test, which is one of the symptoms of the Corona virus.

Fear of contagion and medical quarantine on China and other East Asian countries has caused a significant drop in passenger numbers. According to data from the World Aviation Organization, the drop was 40 percent. In the first week of February, the volume of flights declined by 19 percent over the same period last year. In January and the first week of February, the global drop in bookings was 11.5 percent.

In Asia, the decline is 34 percent. In the Middle East and Africa, there was a 18.5% drop in bookings for future flights, according to data for the first week of February compared to the same period in 2019. In North America, the world's largest airline market, a 12 percent decline was recorded. Latin American countries fell by 15 percent.

Many flights, as well as distant destinations from China, today see many travelers wearing masks, trying to prevent infection. However, the masks usually cover the mouth and not the nose, so patients may become infected with the virus. According to Dr. Vicki Herzberg of Emory University in the US, travelers should check the people sitting next to them on planes. "The biggest risk of getting infected is from someone sitting next to you, in front of you or behind you," she says.

Around the world, more ways are being sought to check the following, as the long incubation period of the virus means that carriers whose symptoms have not yet been detected cannot be detected. According to David Maman, founder and CEO of Binah.air, through digital health applications based on artificial intelligence and signal processing, epidemics can be prevented and real-time detection of a problematic medical condition can be prevented.

According to him, border-crossing cameras at airports and airports can act like biometric detection. "Through artificial intelligence and signal processing, we have developed the ability to detect medical conditions by video analysis, and all it takes is to look at the camera. Such as heart rate, heart rate, mental pressure, blood oxygen levels and respiratory rate, this technology can prevent premature disease and virus transmission of bystanders in cross-country, airport transfers, thus preventing global spread. Physical Testing is done using a camera only and is limited The risk of spreading disease. "

According to Kobi Sussman, Director of the UTA in Israel, "The virus effect has not peaked and one can expect another significant decline in passenger and cargo activity." He said, "The area of ​​cargo operations is greatly affected by the consequences of discontinuing flights to China due to trade routes with the country. Past experience of the 2003 outbreak of the SARS virus indicates that the recovery may also take six months."