This is how to fly in the days of the coronavirus: airline measures to alert and protect passengers

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(CNN Spanish) - While coronavirus cases in the world exceed 75,000, health authorities and governments are reinforcing measures to contain the spread of the virus. Airlines are key in this operation.

More than a dozen major airlines have canceled flights to and from mainland China, several countries have banned foreigners who have traveled to China, while others have told their citizens not to travel there or leave if they can.

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It is estimated that the coronavirus will outweigh the losses from the 2003 SARS epidemic suffered by the airlines: about US $ 7,000 million, according to Ivan Su, an analyst at the financial services firm Morningstar.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports that it has closely monitored the development of this outbreak and that it works closely with the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC) and more to limit the risk of exporting or importing the coronavirus, and therefore has issued a series of measures and recommendations that airlines must follow in the midst of the outbreak whose deaths are already more than 2,100.

These are some of them, but they vary from country to country and according to the airline:

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In case of an illness in the country of destination, and if that place asks for an announcement to be made before arriving, IATA has two books prepared to inform passengers about the requirements of local governments.

“Ladies and gentlemen, public health authorities have implemented actions in response to the current situation
outbreak of …… .. (disease) in ………… (what country (s)).
All travelers (including travelers in transit) who have been present in ……… .. (which country (s)), in the last three weeks must inform the public health authority upon arrival at the airport. This is a safety requirement even if it feels good. Thanks for your cooperation".

The other booklet prepared is for when the traveler must complete the Passenger Health Declaration Form:

“Ladies and gentlemen, public health authorities have implemented actions in response to the current outbreak of …… .. (what disease) in ……… .. (what country (s)).
Public health authorities require all travelers to complete a health declaration form before arrival. The information will be used in accordance with local privacy laws to help combat the spread of the disease. Each traveler must complete a form. A parent or guardian can complete the form for a child. This is required as a precaution even if you feel well. The cabin crew will deliver the form shortly. Please turn in the completed form to the representative of the public health authority upon arrival. Thanks for your cooperation"

Public health card to locate passengers

WHO is recommending that airlines provide travelers with a format called the Public Health Card to locate passengers (PLC), especially in cases where there is suspicion of contagion. The card asks passengers for personal, contact information and information about who accompanies them on their trip.

Measures for airline and airport personnel

The European Union Air Safety Agency (EASA) has issued recommendations for airport and airline personnel, including:

- Adopt WHO measures
- Provide Universal Caution Kit for flights to and from affected countries. They are kits that are used to protect members and the crew that attend to a suspected case of the disease.
- Follow the security protocol if a suspicious case is detected

What to do if there is a passenger apparently ill with the symptoms of coronavirus?

The EASA says that if there is a traveler with symptoms of respiratory infection, and has been in China, in contact with coronavirus patients or with people arriving from China in the last 14 days, the crew must:

1. Alert the health authorities of the point of entry
2. Ask the passenger to fill out the PLC card
3. If the aircraft in which the possible case is detected has a separate cabin with rigid walls, it is recommended to ask the PLC for all passengers sitting in the same section as the suspect case and those who have used the same bathroom of the alleged patient
4. Give a mask to the allegedly infected passenger and minimize the contact of the passenger with other passengers and crew members
5. Recommend to passengers who feel sick to report

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Are you traveling to China?

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has recommendations for airlines and airports in China. They have disinfection programs in public areas, for the crew, the plane and recommendations on how to handle a sick passenger on board.

For airlines

1. Temperature control: crew members must have infrared non-contact thermometers to detect fever in passengers

2. Crew members should wear masks, wet wipes are recommended to disinfect their hands and handwash with soap and water after disposing of waste. If there should be contact with sick passengers or body secretions, crew members should wear protective clothing from the Universal Caution Kit, as well. They should also wear gloves and if there are several sick passengers, they should discard the gloves when moving from one passenger to another, wash their hands and use new ones.

3. The cabin must be cleaned and disinfected after each flight. There are special procedures for each part of the plane and a more specific protocol if the plane was contaminated with body fluids.

4. The terminal must also be disinfected if infected passengers arrived there

Quarantine on board

According to the CAAC, if there is a sick passenger or crew member, it should be quarantined on board, if possible, in the last three rows of the plane and the bathroom in the back should be available only for this passenger or crew member.

If a crew member is found to have symptoms, those who have been on the same flights as him in the last 14 days should be quarantined.

Measures for airports in China

In China airports, the temperature will also be taken with non-contact thermometers. The terminals must notify a patient with a fever and notify the emergency department to notify local authorities. At airports they must have a quarantine zone.

In addition to personnel security measures at airports, similar to those of crew members on flights, airports must air common areas. If the temperature allows it, the CAAC recommends opening doors and windows. If air conditioning is used, CAAC recommends that it be operated using fresh air to keep the air clean.

Airplanes with infected patients must park in a special place or satellite terminal.

Public areas at airports must be disinfected every day.

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