Coronavirus: Epicenter On Lock-down as Nigeria, Others Take Preventive Measures

By Uche Mbah

Tourists, Journalists and International Aid workers Thursday scrambled to beat the deadline of the Chinese government which has placed the epicenter of the dreaded disease, Coronavirus under lock-down to prevent -or at least restrict-the spread of the disease, though fears are that those leaving may already have contacted it since the incubation period is  said to be ten days.

In a bid to reduce the spread, China initially placed Wuhan, the epicenter on lockdown, but has been forced to increase the number of cities on lockdown with more reports of infection increasing from various provinces. The Chinese new year events have been scrapped as the World health Organization, though admitting that the disease is spreading faster than thought, came short of declaring the disease a global epidermic.

Airports around the world have raised health security alerts. In Nigeria, the Nigerian Civil aviation Authorities, NCAA, has put all Airline Operators, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP) and Aerodrome Operators on alert over the outbreak of Coronavirus

In a release by the Spokesperson, Sam Adurogboye, the Authority outlined the main ways it planned to combat the menace. They urged all operators to carry out the following:

1. Pilots in Command (PIC) of aircraft are to report to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) any suspected cases of communicable disease on board an aircraft in line with Nig. CARs 18.8.22.4;
2. In case of a suspected case of communicable disease on board an aircraft, the aircrew are to fill the aircraft General Declaration (Gen Dec) in line with Nig. CARs 18.8.17.4 and Annex 8 of International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).Completed aircraft General Declaration are to be submitted to the Port Health Services (PHS) on arrival at the designated point of entry.
3. Sick passengers on board an aircraft are to be required by the crew to fill a Passenger Locator form in line with Nig.CARs 18.8.22.5. The completed Passenger Locator Forms are to be submitted to Port Health Services (PHS) on arrival at the designated point of entry.
4. Airlines are to have onboard the appropriate number of First Aid Kits, Universal Precaution kits and Emergency Medical kits according to the provisions of Nig.CARs 7.9.1.11 and 7.9.1.12.
5. Airlines are to update the knowledge of their crew members in the handling of communicable disease on board an aircraft.
6. Cabin crew should follow the operational procedures recommended by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and their airlines’ Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in handling possible cases of communicable diseases on board an aircraft. They are to ensure that passengers with symptoms of acute respiratory infection exercises cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues and wash hands thoroughly.
7. Passengers should be encouraged by the crew to self-report if they feel ill.
8. Airlines are to contact Port Health Services for clearance before importing human remains into the country.
9. Designated Points of Entries are to ensure (i) stakeholders collaboration in the handling of a suspected case of communicable disease in line with their respective Public Health Emergency Contigency Plans (PHECPs), (ii) Routine measures, train staff, provide appropriate space, stockpiling of adequate equipment (including Personal Protective Equipment) should be in place at Points of Entries for assessing and managing ill travellers detected before travel, on board aircraft and on arrival,(iii) Procedures and means are in place for communicating information on ill travellers between aircraft and point of entries as well as between POEs and National Health Authorities (iv) Safe transportation of symptomatic passengers to hospitals or designated facilities for clinical assessment and treatment is organised;
10. Airlines and POEs are to report to the Authority in writing any suspected case of communicable disease observed in flight or at any Point of Entry (POE) – International Airport.