With the risk of the coronavirus spreading widely and countries neighbouring China now closing their borders, airports (and airlines) are stepping up their efforts to protect staff and passengers from the deadly virus, which originated in Wuhan, China.

Airlines including Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Lion Air and Seoul Air are suspending flights to China, while carriers such as Finnair, Cathay Pacific and Jetstar Asia have reduced services to and from the country. The outbreak is also causing a decline in the demand for travel to the region.

On Thursday 23 January the World Health Organisation (WHO) declined to formally declare the coronavirus outbreak a global health crisis and said it won’t ask airlines and airports to go beyond their current screening efforts. However with the death toll rising (it currently stands at 170) and the number of people confirmed with the virus now thought to exceed 7,000 people, WHO continues to monitor the situation and its advice.

Across the world countries are imposing travel checks on passengers to try and reduce the spread of the virus. These include temperature checks at transport hubs and in some cases quarantine arrangements.

Changi Airport, which receives more than 430 flights a week from China, is increasing surveillance on all passengers arriving from the country. Low-cost carrier Scoot said disinfectants, hand sanitisers and surgical masks are being supplied on all China flights. It has also been reported that the airline has a disinfection protocol in place for flights where suspected cases have been reported.

Mumbai’s Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has also increased surveillance measures, while according to a statement Delhi Airport staff are checking inbound passengers from affected areas.

In the UK the Department of Health has revealed that ‘enhanced monitoring’ is in place including providing advice to travellers if they feel unwell and what symptoms to look out for. Meanwhile hundreds of Britons being evacuated from Wuhan are to be quarantined for two weeks once they’ve arrived back in the UK.

Details are to be confirmed but sources indicate that passengers could be held at a military base. Australia is also planning to quarantine evacuated passengers, with early reports suggesting they could be held on Christmas Island.

With the impact of the coronavirus showing no signs of abating and Chinese authorities placing an increasing number of cities on lock down, the situation and advice for airports, airlines and travelling passengers will continue to develop.

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