DUBAI: Major airports in the UAE started screening passengers arriving from China over the weekend, as countries continued to step up precautions against the spread of the viral outbreak.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports confirmed thermal screening had begun following directives from the UAE鈥檚 Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Health.
鈥淎ll passengers arriving on direct flights from the People鈥檚 Republic of China must receive thermal screening at the gate upon arrival and be provided with informational leaflets,鈥� the Dubai Airports said in a statement.
The check-ups will be held at 鈥渟ecured, closed gates鈥� by airport medical teams and the Dubai Health Authority, according to Dubai Airports, assuring it 鈥渨ill continue to provide medical teams with any and all support that may be required.鈥�
The Abu Dhabi International Airport also released a six-point list of 鈥減reventive tips鈥� for people travelling to China.
賲胤丕乇 兀亘賵馗亘賷 丕賱丿賵賱賷 賷亘丿兀 亘鬲賮毓賷賱 廿噩乇丕亍丕鬲 賮丨氐 丕賱賲爻丕賮乇賷賳 丕賱賯丕丿賲賷賳 賲賳 丕賱氐賷賳 賱囟賲丕賳 爻賱丕賲丞 賲爻丕賮乇賷賳丕 .. 賷乇噩賶 丕賱丕胤賱丕毓 毓賱賶 丕賱鬲毓賱賷賲丕鬲 丕賱鬲丕賱賷丞 廿賳 賰賳鬲 鬲毓鬲夭賲 丕賱爻賮乇 廿賱賶 丕賱氐賷賳
鈥� Abu Dhabi Airport (@AUH)
UAE officials earlier confirmed there were no cases of coronavirus in the country, adding it was 鈥渋n constant touch with the World Health Organization (WHO) to find out latest updates, recommendations and procedures taken in this matter.鈥�
鈥淭he health situation poses no grounds for concern and the ministry is closely following up on the situation to ensure the health and safety of everyone,鈥� said the National Committee for International Health Regulations and the Control of Pandemics in a statement.
The death toll from the coronavirus has risen to 56 on Sunday morning, with the number of infected people also rising to almost 2000, according to Chinese authorities.
The contagion remained centered on the Hubei provincial capital of Wuhan, but more than a dozen other cities in the province have been locked down in fears of further spreading.
The previously unknown virus has caused global concern because of its similarity to the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) pathogen, which killed hundreds across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.
