Plainclothes officials will move around at the Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi to detect persons who are sneezing or coughing in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Under norms issued by Ranchi airport director Vinod Sharma, two officials each would be on duty in plainclothes at the passenger waiting lounge, conveyor belt and the check-in counters to detect people coughing or sneezing so that they can be taken to the help desk.
“From today (Tuesday) onwards we have deputed two officials at a time at the passengers’ waiting lounge, conveyor belt area and check-in counters to watch people coughing, sneezing or with a runny rose. This is to ensure that even if any passenger tries to downplay symptoms, even if seasonal flu, to guide him to the help desk for medical advice and home quarantine if needed. This would function from morning till late evening at the airport,” said Sharma.
The Ranchi domestic airport set up a medical inspection unit in January with two doctors deputed from premier government hospital RIMS.
“As per the protocol issued by home ministry we do not have thermal screening facility since we are not an international airport,” said the airport director. “We have two doctors from RIMS Ranchi at the medical inspection unit at our airport with medical kits, including face masks and sanitizers. Anyone with a history of travel abroad has to fill up a self-declaration form with address and other details after an examination by doctors. The self-declaration form will be forwarded to the state health department for further action.”
Sanitizers have also been put up at various points of the airport with standees and signage on symptoms of Covid-19, preventive steps, and helpline numbers 104 and 011-23978046.
“We do not want to take risks after a case surfaced in Odisha on Monday. The student from Italy was screened at Delhi airport but found negative, he later got flu-like symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus. We want to keep the health department informed about any visitor with flu-like symptoms,” said a senior airport official.
Ranchi airport sees nearly 6,000 fliers daily. It has 29 flights to key cities, including metros. But fliers to and from Ranchi have dropped by 10 per cent due to the virus scare.
