By Adnan Rafique
ISLAMABAD: The government’s new state-of-the-art thermal scanners, being the major defence against coronavirus, installed at four major airports of the country were effectively functioning to detect passengers with signs of the disease.
According to an official of the Ministry of National Health Services, these thermal scanners had been installed at airports of Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar as precautions aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus in the country from incoming passengers.
He said these screening devices were functional in the arrivals walkway of the airports. The decision of installing these devices was made after the government announced that it would be increasing health oversight in the airports keeping in view the reporting of coronavirus cases in neighbouring and other countries. The scanners measure a person’s body temperature, and any individuals found suffering from fever was then approached by health authorities and a mouth swab test was administered on the person, which can determine whether the person was suffering from coronavirus or not.
He said in this way the screening process of suspected coronavirus patients had become more effective and useful.
He said this latest system would help the health staff to easily detect the coronavirus patients at entry points of airports.
The official said new sign boards and posters had been placed at airports informing passengers about being potentially tested. Earlier, there were complaints on performance of thermal devices and its limited functions.
