WHO calls for strong surveillance system for passengers as Africa opens its airspace

World Health Organisation (WHO) highlighted need for a strong surveillance system for passengers as African continent opens its air amid pandemic. dressing a press briefing, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, vised countries to make any decision and take action based on data which requires strong surveillance systems.

“Passenger information should be collected and mand quickly and systematically in collaboration with health authorities. And travellers need to kw who to contact and what to do if y start to feel unwell,” said Dr Moeti.

WHO official emphasised that risk of coronavirus cant be reduced to zero in present circumstance and experts are constantly learning about methods to suppress transmission. She said that points-of-entry screening at land crossings has evolved into testing in some sub-regions, leing to traffic and long queues.

“Protocols have been developed to reduce this. So, I think this tells us something about what might be necessary as far as opening-up w of air travel,” she ded.

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'Strong response measure'

Dr Moeti elaborated on recommendations saying surfaces like handrails and door handles should be frequently disinfected and physical distancing should be encourd by leaving seats vacant whenever possible. She said that practising physical distancing, hand hygiene, and wearing a mask over mouths and ses can reduce risk of transmission.

Last week, coronavirus cases crossed a sombre mark of 10 million cases worldwide, with deaths more than 521,000, according to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. United States, Brazil, and Russia are worst-hit countries while India reporting a sharp rise in coronavirus cases. UN health ncy has warned that countries t taking pandemic seriously and refusing to allocate resources to combat health emergency will face a “long and hard ro ahe”.

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