CAAT issues more stringent measures after cases of infections in Phuket flights
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has tightened preventive measures and issued new guidelines for passengers and airlines.
The move comes after Phuket's Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration informed that three airlines, which flew seven flights after resuming operations to Phuket since April 15, had infected passengers onboard. The centre told the airlines to inform other passengers to quarantine and take a test.
The new measures which come into effect from May 1 are:
1. Seek cooperation from airlines to consider limiting services between 11pm and 4am in order to reduce the impact on passengers travelling between the airport and their accommodation and to comply with other types of public transport.
2. In case of flight change, flight cancellation and flight consolidation, airlines need to inform and take care of passengers appropriately, as per the Ministry of Transport’s laws.
3. The airport will conduct rigorous screening of people who use the service. Passengers must wear a medical mask or cloth mask. Body temperature must be measured with an infrared thermometer that does not have to come into contact with the body of the person being checked. If anyone does not wear a mask or cloth mask or has temperature higher than 37.3 degrees Celsius, they will be strictly prohibited from entering the airport area.
4. The passenger's body temperature is measured using an infrared thermometer before boarding the aircraft at the departure point and passengers will be tested again before leaving the airport area. If the temperature is higher than 37.3 degrees Celsius or they have respiratory symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, runny nose, or shortness of breath, airport officials will immediately notify local health officials.
5. Airlines must consider appropriate arrangement of seats in the aircraft for the number of passengers in each flight, taking into account the spacing measures to avoid congestion.
6. Airport authorities and airlines must alert passengers of any possible risk. Confirmed patients or high-risk persons must refrain from travelling. If they violate the rule, they may be punished under the Communicable Diseases Act 2015.
