SINGAPORE Changi Airport yesterday started performing temperature screenings for air travellers coming from countries where the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) has been reported.
Local daily broadsheet The Straits Times reported that over 1,200 passengers from Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi were checked as they filed past thermal scanners located at the aerobridge.
Travellers who feel feverish will have their temperatures retaken by doctors based at Changi Airport and be sent to hospitals should MERS be suspected, reported the newspaper.
Singapore’s Ministry of Health will follow up with the passenger in question with daily phone calls and ask the affected to consult a doctor should their condition deteriorate.
Changi Airport welcomes 50,000 travellers from the Middle East every month.
However, the World Health Organization (WHO) said last week that it “does not advise any special screening at points of entry with regard to this event nor does it currently recommend the application of any trade or travel restrictions including for upcoming pilgrimage travel to Saudi Arabia” (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 12, 2014).
Separately, The Straits Times also reported that Singapore’s immigration authorities are mulling installing self-service kisoks at the upcoming Terminal 4 building (TTG Asia e-Daily, February 14, 2013) to have foreign arrivals register their fingerprints. The move would hasten the immigration process and beef up border security.
