Coronavirus: DGCA suspends pre-flight alcohol test at Kerala airports

Aviation regulator DGCA has stopped pre-flight breathalyzer (BA) test for aircrew operating out of Kerala's four airports during next 15 days in wake of dely vel coronavirus outbreak.

breathalyzer (BA) test measures wher a person is drunk or t. " mandatory BA test for flight crew who are operating out of Kerala's airports has been stopped for next 15 days in light of coronavirus situation," a senior official of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said.

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He, however, ded that crew working in flights departing from any one of Kerala's four airports - Calicut, Kannur, Trivandrum and Cochin - will compulsorily undergo post-flight BA tests at next immediate city where y land. India has so far reported three vel coronavirus cases, all from Kerala. Indians tested positive for disease are students who recently returned from China's Wuhan city, epicentre of virus outbreak.

virus has spre rapidly since emerging late last year in China, killing more than 800 people in mainland and infecting over 37,000. Cases have been reported in two dozen or countries. DGCA h stated on Saturday that foreigners who have been to China on or after January 15 won't be allowed to enter India.

aviation regulator, in its circular to airlines on Saturday, reiterated that all visas issued to Chinese nationals before February 5 have been suspended. However, it clarified, "se visa restrictions will t apply to aircrew, who may be Chinese nationals or or foreign nationalities coming from China."

Among Indian airlines, IndiGo and Air India have suspended all ir flights between two countries. SpiceJet, however, continues to fly on Delhi-Hong Kong route. On February 1 and February 2, Air India h conducted two special flights to Wuhan, evacuating 647 Indians and seven Maldivians.

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