RAWALPINDI: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has installed eight more thermal scanners at different points inside Islamabad International Airport (IIA) to detect fever or flu in passengers coming from abroad, in an attempt to prevent further spread of coronavirus (Covid-19).

According to sources, more passengers will be scanned in less time compared to the previous practice.

A senior aviation official said that the new scanners have been installed to facilitate more and more passengers in less time and strengthen the scanning process.

It will help to detect affected people coming from abroad, he added.

The new scanners have been installed at international, domestic departure and arrival lounges to ensure scanning of every passenger and crew member.

According to the standard operating procedure, any passenger detected with symptoms of fever or flu is to be shifted to hospital right from the airport.

Since the outbreak of coronavirus in China, many airports have been taking strict measures to scanning passengers along with crew members to prevent spread of the deadly virus.

Health authorities jointly with airport authorities have been checking the temperature of every passenger before boarding the plane and disembarking.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2020