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Minsk National Airport to ramp up screening of passengers due to new coronavirus
MINSK, 28 January (BelTA) – Minsk National Airport will introduce double screening in response to the new coronavirus outbreak, Belarus Healthcare Minister Vladimir Karanik told journalists on 28 January, BelTA has learned.
According to him, Belarus has decided to take additional preventive measures against the spread of the new coronavirus. “Plans are in place to introduce double screening in Minsk National Airport. First of all, medical workers will go aboard the plane to detect passengers with symptoms of a viral infection. Such passengers will then be examined by the medical service of the civil aviation. They will go through passport control and customs procedures separately,” Vladimir Karanik said.
Vladimir Karanik
A working meeting of all stakeholders, including representatives of the State Border Committee, the Belarusian Transport and Communications Ministry, the services of Minsk National Airport, and the Belavia airline, was held on 28 January. “There is a full understanding on the joint action plan,” Vladimir Karanik stressed.
The coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has a low level of contagiousness, so it is quite difficult to catch it. However, staying in the risk zone for a long time increases the risk of infection.
Chinese New Year celebrations are coming to a close in China. Chinese students and workers as well as Belarusian tourists will start returning to Belarus. Minsk National Airport will offer passengers to undergo a medical examination. “We have all the necessary reagents. We are deciding where to set up health screening checkpoints to do oral swab tests,” Vladimir Karanik said.
Health screening checkpoints will be installed in the airport soon. The airport will record announcements in Russian and Chinese, listing groups of passengers that are strongly advised by the Healthcare Ministry and the Chinese embassy in Belarus to undergo a medical examination. Other passengers will also be able to have an examination for free. Results are usually ready in 4-12 hours. If needed the medical service will contact passengers and they will be put under medical supervision.
According to Vladimir Karanik, China is putting a lot of effort to control the situation, residents of the areas affected by the virus are quarantined for 14 days before leaving the country as the incubation period of the virus lasts for 14 days. “This minimizes the risk of the spread of infection outside the country,” the minister noted.
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