We all know that the airlines all around the world are mostly grounded and the airline industry has been seriously disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic. Aviation is one of the most important global industries in the world. However, many countries have banned international air travel to restrict the spread of the virus.
As a result of this international lockdown, millions of people are currently stuck for almost 6 or more weeks, unable to travel even for essential, and urgent needs and in many cases causing a humanitarian crisis. The travel restriction has had a major impact on millions of global citizens. Many people need to travel for many essential, urgent, and emergency reasons such as:
- to unite with separated family members, caught off guard from travel restrictions,
- to visit the sick /ill family members living in other countries
- to support family situations including loss of life, treatments, various family situations
- to attend pending medical life-saving treatments
- to travel back to home countries because of loss of employment, expired visas and currently struggling to make ends meet financially as a direct impact of COVID-19 crisis
- urgent travel for healthcare professionals who may have been on leave or visiting home countries
- and so many other unique situations on humanitarian grounds.
We need to find a solution to this crisis. Since a vaccine remains a long way away and with no end in sight from these continued lockdowns we have to find a solution for essential travel around the world. We must explore other ways to resume international air travel at the earliest.
We request the World Health Organization, United Nations, The Airports Council International (ACI) World, The International Air Transport Association (IATA) to come together and implement the following public health measures to resume international travel at the earliest to avoid another humanitarian crisis in the making.
- Use the new rapid coronavirus test which can detect COVID-19 in as little as 5 minutes as a mandatory step at the airports for all passengers including outgoing and incoming passengers on international flights.
- In addition to virus screening, implement thermal screenings and other mechanisms for additional precautions to contain the spread of COVID-19
- Ensure all passengers, airport and airline employees are either given masks, gloves or asked to buy & wear them as a mandatory step to gain entry to airports and airlines
Since rapid coronavirus tests can be used to get the results in less than 5 minutes, it can help to prevent more global infections without restricting people's movement across the globe. This would help all the international air traffic to resume and open up the safe movement of people. The rapid coronavirus tests would be a welcome step since it could help detect potential COVID-19 cases and thus prevent second or third waves of imported coronavirus infections.
These rapid tests, as well as other antigen tests as they become available, can offer faster results with less lab work. Eventually, these can be extended to all domestic checkpoints to help restrict more infections. Recently Emirates became the first airline to conduct on-site rapid COVID-19 tests for passengers, so it is not that there is not a precedent to these rapid coronavirus tests. Opening up international and domestic air transportation in a measured way without impacting public health can send a signal in the right direction to cut short this crisis and boost morale. There are a number of non-profit organizations that can help donate and provide the necessary support to avoid another humanitarian crisis.
We request governments to offer support to this novel idea to ensure human movement begins across the world without compromising public health and we suggest an adaptation of the rapid testing starting with the international port of entries and quickly expanding to domestic travels. Airline Industry is known for its safety and innovation. This is the time to help and guide them from a healthcare standpoint so that they can resume the travel to help people and also eventually the economy.
Thank You.
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References:
Emirates becomes first airline to conduct on-site rapid COVID-19 tests for passengers
Detect Covid-19 In As Little As 5 Minutes
