Transport hubs on high alert to contain virus
SHANGHAI’S airports, railway and long-distance bus stations began taking temperatures of passengers yesterday as part of the efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
Passengers arriving from Wuhan are being checked for fever at Pudong and Hongqiao airports, the Shanghai Airport Authority said.
Those with high temperatures will have their details and contacts registered. They are then guided to the city’s designated medical facilities for coronavirus prevention and control.
Public areas at the airports’ terminal buildings are being disinfected, especially the corridors, and the passengers arriving from Wuhan should walk through the temperature check channels, the authority said.
There are around 14 flights from Wuhan to Shanghai every day, mainly operated by China Eastern, Shanghai Airlines and China Southern Airlines.
Shanghai’s railway and bus stations have also enhanced sterilization processes and ventilation in addition to promoting prevention knowledge.
Staff at railway stations are using thermal detectors to check passengers’ temperatures.
Infrared ray temperature testing systems and devices have been put up at train stations and are also used on trains.
Waiting rooms and trains to Wuhan are disinfected every day, and air-conditioning and ventilation facilities are checked and disinfected to ensure a safe and clean environment.
Most passengers were wearing masks at Pudong airport’s T2 terminal yesterday. Staff at the airport’s clinic said an increasing number of passengers had been checking their temperatures voluntarily.
A young mother surnamed Wu and her 7-year-old son were both wearing masks at the airport.
“I learned about the current serious condition of coronavirus-related pneumonia from the media. Since the airport is a crowded place, we should do something to prevent the virus,” said Wu. “We wash our hands more often.”
She said she was not too afraid of the disease because she believed the government and scientists would work out a solution.
Another woman surnamed Xu and her sister was wearing masks. They, along with Xu’s niece, were taking a flight to their hometown Xi’an in Shaanxi Province.
Although some family members believed they were in good health and didn’t need a mask, she thought it necessary to prevent the disease.
Some airlines require staff and crew to wear masks.
Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines and Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon have asked flight attendants and pilots to wear masks while serving passengers on flights to or from Wuhan.
By late evening yesterday, Shanghai had reported nine coronavirus-related pneumonia cases and 10 suspected cases.
All nine patients were stable but three were battling serious lung conditions. None of them were using a respiratory machine.
Compared with SARS and human bird flu, coronavirus spreads more quickly but patients’ symptoms are not so serious. However, close observation is needed to monitor its development, said Wu Jinglei, director of the Shanghai health commission.
“The city will report the latest prevention and control on coronavirus according to law,” he said. “Information about all cases will be publicized by the health commission in time.”
The city has established a special taskforce to direct and manage the virus.
Medical staff, with all the necessary medication and equipment, are on standby to treat patients, monitor suspected cases and deal with close contacts. The government has ensured abundant production and supply of masks.
There are 110 fever clinics in hospitals in all 15 districts of the Pudong New Area. The clinics are open 24 hours.
Dr Zhang Wenhong, who is heading the city’s coronavirus expert team, said Shanghai’s cases all have connections with Wuhan. The patients had either lived there, traveled there or had close contacts with an existing patient.
People should avoid going to places where there is an outbreak, Zhang said.
The incubation period is usually seven days while two weeks after returning to Shanghai is also a risk period.
He said tests could determine whether a suspected case was positive in 24 hours.