The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is finalising its guidance on measures for airports to take to tackle the spread of the coronavirus. This information can be found in the minutes - just released - of the conference call held by the Health Security Committee on April 22.
The minutes note that EASA has submitted a proposal for air transport containment measures, particularly guidelines to be applied at airports. The document states that “the proposal includes measures to be implemented in buildings (e.g. physical distancing, quarantine, triage, disinfecting and cleaning of spaces, provision of personal protective equipment, etc.), measures for staff (e.g. education, training, health monitoring, social distancing), measures for passengers (e.g. questionnaires, temperature checks, designated airport shuttles to transport incoming passengers) and measures for airlines, airports and EASA”, and adds that the guidelines will be adjusted in the light of both the results of tests currently being carried out and the opinion of the Health Security Committee. The minutes add that EASA will be preparing key information for the other aspects of air transport which will be provided to operators and national authorities.
The minutes indicate that, during the meeting, the Health Security Committee stressed the importance of starting the process quickly in order to avoid risks that may result from the airlines beginning to operate again in an uncoordinated manner. The Health Security Committee also called for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to be involved in its discussions on health matters (such as screening). The Committee includes representatives from Member States’ health authorities and observers from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Turkey, Serbia and Norway. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)