Blink News Network
Bhubaneswar, Mar 14: The Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in the state capital will start screening all passengers arriving from outside for Coronavirus from coming Monday to thwart any chances of infected patients entering into the state, the state government said on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar senior IAS officer Hemant Sharma and State Health Secretary Nikunja Dhal on Saturday told reporters that from Monday onwards the state will embark on a spree to screen all passengers coming to the state through airlines.
“We will start the mandatory screening from Monday for all passengers. This will include domestic as well as foreign travelers. The scrutiny will start in Bhubaneswar as well as Jharsuguda airport. This will be a screening not blood test,” said Sharma.
He also added that the state will also ask all passengers to give their contact details and address as soon as they land in the airports in the state to ensure contact tracing of passengers is strengthened.
“Each airline operator will ensure that their representative enters the aircraft before de-boarding passengers and makes announcements in Odia language about mandatory screening and recording details of the passengers. A special counter will be opened for the same,” he added.
