PodcastTurkey to start screening passengers on flights from China
Turkey will screen passengers on all flights from China with thermal cameras upon arrival, the Health Ministry said on Jan. 23. The precautionary move comes amid the outbreak of a new deadly new virus in China. Meanwhile, Turkey's embassy in Beijing has warned citizens against travelling to the country.
Duvar English / Anadolu Agency
Turkey will screen passengers on all flights from China with thermal cameras upon arrival, state-run Anadolu Agency said on Jan. 23, citing an official announcement of the Health Ministry.
The ministry decided for the precautionary move amid the outbreak of a deadly new virus in China’s central Wuhan city, the agency said.
Also Wuhan-Istanbul flights -- carried out by a Chinese airline three days a week -- have been suspended after the Chinese government put Wuhan in quarantine.
Although the World Health Organization (WHO) is yet to issue a warning on the virus, Turkey took the preventive step, with the quarantine rooms and the medical teams at the airports working 24/7.
Turkish embassy warns citizens against travel to China
Meanwhile, Turkey's embassy in Beijing warned its citizens on Jan. 23 against traveling to China. The embassy in its statement made recommendations to Turkish citizens living in China or those who were traveling there.
It recommended avoiding crowded environments, wearing protective masks outdoors and avoiding contact with patients showing symptoms of fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
The mission also urged against visiting farms and markets keeping and slaughtering animals, adding that meat and poultry products should be well cooked before consumption.
It also recommended immediate consultation with a physician if the relevant symptoms emerge.
The statement emphasized that Turkish citizens residing in China should closely follow official announcements and warnings of the Chinese government and the WHO.
Scientists are increasingly concerned about this new virus that has so far infected 571 people and taken the lives of 17 people in China. The virus is a coronavirus, from the family that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS. It causes a respiratory illness, can spread from person to person and emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December.
As of Jan. 22, the virus was detected in one person in Hong Kong and Macao Chinese special administrative regions each.
The virus was also seen in the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia.