Airports in the Northeast have been put on alert for novel coronavirus following an advisory from the central government.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI), with the help of the state governments concerned, has set up screening and testing counters in most of the airports of the Northeast.

AAI regional executive director (NER) Sanjeev Jindal said Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport here is the only airport in the northeastern region from where international flight operations take place.

He said following the standard operating procedure (SOP) received from the Centre, a special screening, testing and checking counter with the help of the Assam government has been functioning at Guwahati airport since last week.

Jindal said a special ambulance has also been kept ready at Guwahati airport and an isolated unit created in a Guwahati hospital for suspected patients.

Similarly, such screening and testing counters were set up in the other major airports, including Agartala’s Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport, Lengpui airport in Mizoram and Imphal airport in Manipur, he added.

“No cases of the coronavirus have been detected in the Northeast. There is no reason to panic. None can hide any kind of symptom. The airlines have been asked to give announcement before landing so that the doubtful or suspected passengers could be get themselves screened and tested,” the AAI regional executive director said.

A high-level meeting of Union ministry of civil aviation reviewed the preparedness towards implementation of latest instructions issued by the Union ministry of health and family welfare and Bureau of Immigration with respect to strict compliance regarding universal screening for novel corona virus, an AAI statement said on Tuesday.