Thailand: Flight times cut, checks ramped up

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has issued a new guideline recommending stricter Covid-19 control measures for all domestic flights, following the detection of new infections linked with seven recent flights to and from Phuket airport. On Saturday, the Phuket Covid-19 information centre requested that 157 passengers on board seven recent domestic flights be tested and go into quarantine after cases were diagnosed on their planes. The centre also released seating charts highlighting those who had sat nearest the sources of infection. In the new guideline issued by the CAAT, which took effect on Saturday, all airlines are being asked for cooperation to limit the number of flights between 11pm and 4am. This is to avoid causing hold-ups in passengers' journeys and keep the flight schedules in line with the running times of other public transport services. Airports are now required to take both passenger and visitor temperatures on entry and exit, with airport officials responsible for promptly alerting local health authorities to anyone a reading higher than 37.5C or who displays visible signs of illness. All airlines are also advised to ensure in-flight social distancing, while both airlines and airports are required to notify passengers that they have to avoid travelling in the event they are confirmed to have Covid-19 or are contacts of a confirmed case.<br/>