Airports strengthen coronavirus measures

Shanghai's two airports beefed up coronavirus prevention measures from Friday to check temperatures and register all passengers flying from central China's Hubei Province.

Passengers with a high temperature will be guided to the city's designated medical facilities for coronavirus prevention and control, the Shanghai Airport Authority said.

Previously, all passengers flying from Wuhan, Hubei’s capital, to Shanghai had their temperatures checked at the Pudong and Hongqiao airports. Hubei has reported 549 novel coronavirus infection cases, including 24 deaths.

Hubei has six major airports in Wuhan, Shiyan, Shennongjia, Yichang, Enshi and Xiangyang, and there are flights to tourist attractions such as Shennongjia forestry zone, Wudang Mountain and the Three Gorges.

The upgraded prevention measures were launched after Shanghai imposed its highest-level response mechanism for major public health emergencies on Friday to prevent and control the spread of infection linked to the new strain of coronavirus.

People from key infected areas will be isolated and undergo 14-day observation, the city government announced.

Further intensified disinfection measures have also been carried out at terminal buildings, transport hubs, shuttle buses and toilets at Pudong and Hongqiao airports.

The corridors and temperature check channels used by passengers from Hubei flights will undergo stricter disinfection measures, the airport authority said.

Both Shanghai airports will also enhance protection for its employees at the security and temperature checkpoints as well as other posts with high infection risks.

Airport workers who had close connection with people from Wuhan within 14 days will also be registered along with prevention measures, according to the authority.