As we all know, the Lion City has been leading the race when it comes to public hygiene, with its strict littering laws that keep its streets clean of unwanted garbage. In current times, Singapore’s hygiene is something that most countries can only dream of. Usually, we hear people criticize Singapore’s strict laws and on the other hand, most praise the country for it. 

But, the coronavirus epidemic hasn’t spared one of the world’s cleanest cities either. Singapore currently has a total number of 77 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Let’s take a look into how Singapore’s Changi Airport is fighting the coronavirus epidemic. Changi Airport Group (CAG), the authority overseeing Changi Airport has taken several measures to ensure that the virus does not spread from person to person. 

One of the measures is that the airport has increased the number of hand sanitizers to 1,200 from its usual 160 bottles. These sanitizers have been placed in various locations inside the airport, including high-traffic areas, food, and retail outlets, check-in rows, arrivals, immigration, and departure areas. Don’t be surprised if you find a hand sanitizer at every turn you take inside the airport. 

The CAG has also increased the frequency of cleaning and decontaminating the airport premises. The cleaners are provided with specific disinfectants instead of the general-purpose solutions that are used for cleaning floors, countertops, door handles and knobs, and railings. 

A unique protective disinfectant coating has been applied on frequently touched surfaces like touchscreens of kiosks and lift buttons, to prevent bacteria and viruses from sticking on to the surface. A CAG spokesman said, “With a single application sprayed onto surfaces, the compound reduces the chance of viruses and bacteria staying on them.”

The CAG has mentioned that they are using disinfectants that have been declared as safe and eco-friendly by the US Environmental Protection Agency. These disinfectants, made of quaternary ammonium chloride usually last for about three to six months. Taking note of restroom floors, latrines, and urinals, the CAG has provided cleaners with ozone-infused water to clean them. Ozone is said to be a better disinfectant when compared to chlorine and other cleaning liquids. 

Alongside passengers, the airline crew, visitors and airport staff have also been asked to undergo a screening procedure to ensure that the COVID-19 stays at bay. On the other hand, screening equipment has also been installed at tourist attractions near the airport, like the Canopy Park, Changi Experience studio and Shaw Theatres at Jewel, to screen all the incoming visitors.

Also Know: Wuhan Coronavirus Outbreak: Symptoms, Impact, Precautions

The Managing Director for CAG’s Airport Operations Management, Jayson Goh stated that these precautionary measures are intended to increase passengers’ confidence when they travel through Changi Airport. When passengers travel to, from or via Changi Airport, they should be confident that they are in safe hands. 

Jayson said, “Changi Airport is an important aviation hub, and therefore it is imperative that we keep it operating safely for our airport community, our staff, for passengers, as well as visitors to the airport.” Most of these precautionary measures were already being followed even before the coronavirus outbreak became an epidemic. Also, Jayson said that they would continue to have these methods in place for the long term, in case, the methods prove to be effective.  

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The post Here is How Singapore’s Changi Airport is Fighting Coronavirus Epidemic: Extra Precautionary Measures appeared first on iEagle.com Travel Magazine.

What is Coronavirus?

On December 31, 2019, several cases of pneumonia were reported in Wuhan. On testing, doctors realized that the virus did not match any other known species of virus. This raised an alarm as experts struggled to figure out how this mystery virus affects people. A week later, Chinese authorities confirmed that they identified a new strain of the virus, which is temporarily named ‘2019-nCoV’ aka coronavirus. This is the seventh variant of coronavirus known to affect humans.

Experts suspect that coronavirus might have originated in a seafood market in Wuhan, where wildlife was sold illegally. On comparing the genetic sequence of this mystery virus with those of other known coronaviruses, scientists have confirmed that it likely originated in snakes.

This novel coronavirus is a family of viruses that include the common cold and severe forms like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus (MERS), which are life-threatening. In some cases, this mystery virus affects humans and animals alike. Occasionally, a coronavirus mutates and can pass from animals to humans and then from one human to another.

Coronavirus: Symptoms, transmission, and precautions

For confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV coronavirus infections, illness varies from infected people with a few or no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying. The symptoms of coronavirus include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. 

However, this new strain of coronavirus has been deemed dangerous by experts across the world. This novel 2019-nCoV virus usually causes mild to moderate upper respiratory problems, including common cold. But, there are more severe types that can cause pneumonia and death. These symptoms might appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure; this makes it hard to detect.

Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent 2019-nCoV coronavirus infection. The coronavirus transmits from one person to another the same way other cold-causing viruses do i.e. when they come in contact with an infected person, by touching their hands or face, or by touching things such as doorknobs that infected people have touched.

However, the best way to safeguard yourself from this coronavirus infection is to follow a few simple preventive actions.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are feeling sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Cities and people affected by Coronavirus

This coronavirus has been crossing borders and spreading rapidly. In the past few weeks, China alone has registered more than 80,778 total confirmed cases of infection and 3,158 deaths. There also are hundreds of reported cases across the world. Apart from China, the other countries are – Canada, the USA, France, Germany, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Macau, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia.  

On the other hand, multiple doctors across Wuhan have provided a more alarming perspective on the coronavirus outbreak. Dr. Jinnhui, who has been treating patients in Hankou District, Wuhan, stated that the infection rate is extremely high. In Hubei province alone, over 90,000 people have been infected and one person can easily spread the virus to at least 14 people around. 

Early this week, a teacher traveling to Beijing Capital International Airport took to her social media handles and shared how ‘spooky’ it was as one of the busiest airports in the world looked desolated owing to the coronavirus panic.

Safety measures, lockdown, and quarantine

Chinese authorities have imposed indefinite restrictions on public transport in and travel to Wuhan, to reduce the flow of coronavirus. Only vehicles with special permits, free shuttles, and government vehicles will be allowed to move around. Officials stated that they would also suspend visa and passport services for Chinese citizens until January 30. Over 50 million people in 20 Chinese cities, including Wuhan, are currently facing a travel ban.

Meanwhile, hundreds of airlines have canceled flights to, from and via Wuhan, owing to the coronavirus outbreak. Multiple airports across the world have started screening passengers who arrive from China. 

The Chinese government has also started the construction of a mobile hospital in Wuhan, which is expected to be completed in six days. This hospital will have the capacity to accommodate 1000 patients, apart from the medical staff. Once this hospital is completed, the government will construct another hospital within a similar time frame. This hospital will have the capacity to accommodate at least 1300 patients.

The post Wuhan Coronavirus Outbreak: All You Need to Know about Coronavirus Symptoms, Impact, Precautions appeared first on iEagle.com Travel Magazine.

On January 25, Beijing Capital International Airport looked deserted as people refrained from traveling amidst the coronavirus outbreak. The desolated view at one of the world’s busiest airports made it look like a ghost town. Beijing International Airport caters to over 95 million passengers annually. 

A 51-year-old teacher, Suzan Tokdemir, traveling from Hong Kong to Beijing Capital International Airport said, “It took me 15 minutes from getting off the plane to standing outside the front of the airport – that included collecting my luggage, passport check, fingerprint scan and more.” In addition, she said the staff disinfected the aircraft before taking off and after landing. And further asked everyone to report the symptoms if they experienced any. 

Suzan, who flew back to Beijing, said it was “spooky” to see the numbers dwindle on each of her connecting flights. She said, “Even at Hong Kong airport, almost everyone was masked. I had hired a driver to take me home, and he got stopped by masked police on the way back and had his temperature checked.” Surprisingly, even Beijing’s motorway was also empty. The coronavirus threat has forced everyone to stay indoors. 

Also Know: Wuhan Coronavirus Outbreak: Everything about Coronavirus Symptoms, Impact, Precautions

In order to contain the virus, government officials have temporarily stopped all means of transport to and from Wuhan. Officials stated that they would also suspend visa and passport services for Chinese citizens until January 30. The travel ban comes just days before the biggest holiday on the Chinese calendar – Lunar New Year.

On the other hand, hundreds of airlines flying to, from and via Wuhan Province in Central China have canceled their flights. Moreover, these airlines have also waived off the cancelation and rescheduling charges. Owing to the coronavirus outbreak, multiple sectors including aviation, tourism, hospitality and stock markets have taken a huge hit.

The airlines include Air China, Capital Airlines, Emirates, British Airways, IndiGo, Air India, Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon, Chengdu Airlines, China Airlines, Mandarin Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, China United Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, Lucky Air, Hainan Airlines, OK Air, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Spring Airlines, Suparna Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, West Air, Urumqi Air, and Xiamen Air.

Apart from China, additional coronavirus cases have been identified in the US, Bangladesh, Australia, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

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