Abstract
Introduction: As part of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) control strategies, entry screening was established at International airports. An assessment of the screening system will inform decision-making for improving entry screening for infectious diseases. Methods: Assessment of entry screening at Thiruvananthapuram international airport done during pre and post-lockdown phases. Observation, interviews, and secondary data analysis were the methods employed. The number of passengers screened, their symptom profile, the yield of screening, actions taken, staff pattern, perceptions, training, and infection control practices assessed. Chi-square test and t test were used for testing significance. Results: Out of the 46139 passengers screened pre-lockdown, 297 (0.64%) had symptoms, 23 (0.05%) were positive in thermal screening. Six (2%) among them tested positive for COVID-19. Out of the 44263 passengers screened post lockdown, from May to July 2020, 671 (1.5%) were symptomatic, and 12 (0.03%) were positive in thermal screening. COVID-19 was confirmed in 45 (6.7 %) patients identified through the screening. With the surge in cases, the proportion of passengers opting for institutional quarantine increased significantly (P<0.001). None of the staff contracted the disease. Infection control practices followed by them were optimal. Conclusion: Though the yield of thermal and symptom screening is low, entry screening is an opportunity to identify travelers at risk of COVID-19 infection. In addition, it helps in raising awareness to ensure quarantine and guides public health authorities in preventing disease spread to the community.
Highlights
As part of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) control strategies, entry screening was established at International airports
Airport surveillance and screening of travelers is a control strategy documented in the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2003 and the H1N1 outbreak in 2001.1 COVID-19 is a disease that spreads from symptomatic, pre-symptomatic, asymptomatic patients or environmental surfaces.[2]
Pre-lockdown Phase As the pandemic spread became more apparent, around 443 flights and 46 139 passengers were screened at the international airport, an average number of flights and passengers per day being around 20 and 2000, respectively
Summary
As part of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) control strategies, entry screening was established at International airports. Methods: Assessment of entry screening at Thiruvananthapuram international airport done during pre and post-lockdown phases. The number of passengers screened, their symptom profile, the yield of screening, actions taken, staff pattern, perceptions, training, and infection control practices assessed. Results: Out of the 46139 passengers screened pre-lockdown, 297 (0.64%) had symptoms, 23 (0.05%) were positive in thermal screening. Out of the 44 263 passengers screened post lockdown, from May to July 2020, 671 (1.5%) were symptomatic, and 12 (0.03%) were positive in thermal screening. Conclusion: Though the yield of thermal and symptom screening is low, entry screening is an opportunity to identify travelers at risk of COVID-19 infection. Effectiveness of entry screening at airports as a control measure has its limitations like a recent exposure not progressing to symptoms[4,5,6] symptomatic traveler without fever[7,8,9,10] decreased sensitivity of non-contact infrared thermometer (NCIT) used for fever screening.[11,12] Fever screening, concealing symptoms through medications[12] and the non-specificity of fever as a symptom for screening.[6,13,14] During the early phase of the epidemic in India, states like Kerala had to overcome many new challenges due to the novel nature of the disease, along with already known or documented challenges reported in airport screening in other epidemics.[15,16]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
