Manila Bulletin
Philippines
MCIA implements directive temporarily banning travel to and from China, SAR
Philippines
MCIA implements directive temporarily banning travel to and from China, SAR
MCIA implements directive temporarily banning travel to and from China, SAR
Published Feb 3, 2020 12:00 am
By Minerva Newman
CEBU CITY – The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is now implementing the directive of President Duterte temporarily banning the entry of all travelers from mainland China and its Special Administrative Regions (SAR) Hongkong and Macau as a precaution against the threat of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2 (JUAN CARLO DE VELA / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
China’s Hubei Province and the provincial capital of Wuhan City have been at the epicenter of the 2019-nCoV outbreak.
MCIAA and GMR MEGAWIDE Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), with the Bureaus of Immigration and Quarantine, are working closely to ensure that all airlines operating direct international flights into Cebu from China, Hong Kong, and Macau are made aware of the new directive for them to take the appropriate action to minimize disruption to its inbound and outbound flights.
GMCAC is coordinating with all airline operators, concerned airport community stakeholders, and even with the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), operator of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), to align with the overall enforcement of the travel ban ordered by President Duterte.
According to GMCAC the entry ban exempts Filipino citizens and permanent residents in the country but requires them to be quarantined for 14 days. In response to this situation the MCIA has already designated an isolated holding area for these passengers who can disembark.
This holding facility is closed off to nonessential airport employees and is connected to a separate bus bay to ensure proper handling and transport of the quarantined passengers, in line with the required stringent quarantine procedures, the media statement read.
GMCAC chief executive advisor Andrew Harrison said in a press conference that more than a week the Mactan-Cebu International Airport community has already put in place precautionary measures to control the potential spread and transmission of the novel coronavirus and to ensure the well-being of passengers and employees.
“We are committed to working with the relevant authorities to monitor the situation. The following measures are being implemented at MCIA accordingly:
In-flight announcements: All airlines have been advised to make a standard in-flight announcement prior to landing at MCIA advising passengers experiencing flu-like symptoms to self-declare and voluntarily submit to a medical screening by the Bureau of Quarantine upon disembarkation.
Intensified thermal scanning: The Bureau of Quarantine is on heightened alert and has intensified monitoring of arriving passengers in MCIA by taking additional thermal scans of passenger body temperatures on the aerobridges of all flights arriving directly from China. This is in addition to the thermal scanning at the Immigration Arrival Level.
Bureau of Quarantine Officer Dr. Paul Longinos said they have augmented their staff manning the counters and added three more handheld thermal scanners to speed up testing and other tasks.
Longinos said that all international and domestic passengers coming in and out of Cebu are subjective to thermal scans to ensure safe and protected travels.
Hand sanitization and air disinfection: According to Harrison Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are being installed in all aerobridges and arrival corridors with passengers being asked to use these facilities.
“Liquid disinfectant will be sprayed in the aerobridges prior to each flight arrivals, as well as ground handlers have also been given hand sanitizers,” Harrison added.
Medical team to be stationed at the arrivals area: A medical team is stationed at the arrivals area of Terminals 1 and 2 to provide information and advice to any passengers. The Bureau of Quarantine will however maintain primary responsibility for dealing with suspected cases.
According to Longinos even its medical team has also been augmented with an additional of 20 nurses and four doctors on top of the existing staff at the BOQ to deal with the current situation.
Airport front liners to wear protective masks: All airport staff dealing with passengers upon immediate arrival are required to wear surgical masks as a precautionary measure. As the virus is currently understood to be transmitted through contaminated droplets, surgical masks will provide adequate protection.
Adequate information materials and announcements: Information materials will be displayed in prominent areas at Arrival and Departure to provide the passengers with ample information on coronavirus, Harrison said.
Announcements and reminders will be made on a regular basis and running electronic messages will be displayed around the airport. These messages will be based on guidance material from the Department of Health and Bureau of Quarantine, he added.
Meanwhile in Negros Oriental, governor Roel Degamo has ordered the strict implementation of his Executive Order No. 4, Series 2020 directing the Negros Oriental Poiice Provincial Office (NOPPO in accordance with pertinent issuances to assist doctors and medical staff, both public and private, for the strict implementation of the EO.
According to the EO, any foreign national who is subjected to be placed on quarantine based on the DOH nCoV decision tool but refused to be quarantined, shall be apprehended and be sent back to their place of origin.
Degamo also directed the Integrated Provincial Hospital Office (IPHO) to strengthen the monitoring system, deepen investigation, and intensify contact tracing for those who have been in contact with the couple while they were in Dumaguete City and the Province.
The Department of Health (DOH) has recently confirmed that the 2nd confirmed case of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus died Saturday. The deceased was a 44-year old man from Wuhan, China. He was the man-companion of the woman confirmed first case of nCoV in the Philippines.
Governor Degamo further asks the public for vigilance, cooperation and solidarity during this trying time.
READ MORE: PH reports 1st coronavirus death
Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2 (JUAN CARLO DE VELA / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
China’s Hubei Province and the provincial capital of Wuhan City have been at the epicenter of the 2019-nCoV outbreak.
MCIAA and GMR MEGAWIDE Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), with the Bureaus of Immigration and Quarantine, are working closely to ensure that all airlines operating direct international flights into Cebu from China, Hong Kong, and Macau are made aware of the new directive for them to take the appropriate action to minimize disruption to its inbound and outbound flights.
GMCAC is coordinating with all airline operators, concerned airport community stakeholders, and even with the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), operator of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), to align with the overall enforcement of the travel ban ordered by President Duterte.
According to GMCAC the entry ban exempts Filipino citizens and permanent residents in the country but requires them to be quarantined for 14 days. In response to this situation the MCIA has already designated an isolated holding area for these passengers who can disembark.
This holding facility is closed off to nonessential airport employees and is connected to a separate bus bay to ensure proper handling and transport of the quarantined passengers, in line with the required stringent quarantine procedures, the media statement read.
GMCAC chief executive advisor Andrew Harrison said in a press conference that more than a week the Mactan-Cebu International Airport community has already put in place precautionary measures to control the potential spread and transmission of the novel coronavirus and to ensure the well-being of passengers and employees.
“We are committed to working with the relevant authorities to monitor the situation. The following measures are being implemented at MCIA accordingly:
In-flight announcements: All airlines have been advised to make a standard in-flight announcement prior to landing at MCIA advising passengers experiencing flu-like symptoms to self-declare and voluntarily submit to a medical screening by the Bureau of Quarantine upon disembarkation.
Intensified thermal scanning: The Bureau of Quarantine is on heightened alert and has intensified monitoring of arriving passengers in MCIA by taking additional thermal scans of passenger body temperatures on the aerobridges of all flights arriving directly from China. This is in addition to the thermal scanning at the Immigration Arrival Level.
Bureau of Quarantine Officer Dr. Paul Longinos said they have augmented their staff manning the counters and added three more handheld thermal scanners to speed up testing and other tasks.
Longinos said that all international and domestic passengers coming in and out of Cebu are subjective to thermal scans to ensure safe and protected travels.
Hand sanitization and air disinfection: According to Harrison Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are being installed in all aerobridges and arrival corridors with passengers being asked to use these facilities.
“Liquid disinfectant will be sprayed in the aerobridges prior to each flight arrivals, as well as ground handlers have also been given hand sanitizers,” Harrison added.
Medical team to be stationed at the arrivals area: A medical team is stationed at the arrivals area of Terminals 1 and 2 to provide information and advice to any passengers. The Bureau of Quarantine will however maintain primary responsibility for dealing with suspected cases.
According to Longinos even its medical team has also been augmented with an additional of 20 nurses and four doctors on top of the existing staff at the BOQ to deal with the current situation.
Airport front liners to wear protective masks: All airport staff dealing with passengers upon immediate arrival are required to wear surgical masks as a precautionary measure. As the virus is currently understood to be transmitted through contaminated droplets, surgical masks will provide adequate protection.
Adequate information materials and announcements: Information materials will be displayed in prominent areas at Arrival and Departure to provide the passengers with ample information on coronavirus, Harrison said.
Announcements and reminders will be made on a regular basis and running electronic messages will be displayed around the airport. These messages will be based on guidance material from the Department of Health and Bureau of Quarantine, he added.
Meanwhile in Negros Oriental, governor Roel Degamo has ordered the strict implementation of his Executive Order No. 4, Series 2020 directing the Negros Oriental Poiice Provincial Office (NOPPO in accordance with pertinent issuances to assist doctors and medical staff, both public and private, for the strict implementation of the EO.
According to the EO, any foreign national who is subjected to be placed on quarantine based on the DOH nCoV decision tool but refused to be quarantined, shall be apprehended and be sent back to their place of origin.
Degamo also directed the Integrated Provincial Hospital Office (IPHO) to strengthen the monitoring system, deepen investigation, and intensify contact tracing for those who have been in contact with the couple while they were in Dumaguete City and the Province.
The Department of Health (DOH) has recently confirmed that the 2nd confirmed case of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus died Saturday. The deceased was a 44-year old man from Wuhan, China. He was the man-companion of the woman confirmed first case of nCoV in the Philippines.
Governor Degamo further asks the public for vigilance, cooperation and solidarity during this trying time.
READ MORE: PH reports 1st coronavirus death