Combating coronavirus: Over 51,000 Covid-19 tests conducted at Abu Dhabi Airports

Abu Dhabi - Operations at the airport have continued smoothly and efficiently despite the robust precautionary measures in place.

A total of 51,100 Covid-19 tests have been conducted at the Abu Dhabi International Airport covering passengers, airline crew members and airport employees since the first week of February.
As passenger operations were suspended, the airport remained open for vital cargo operations, special repatriation flights and facilitating global humanitarian relief efforts.
Mohammed Husain Ahmed, general manager, Abu Dhabi International Airport, said: "Operations at the airport have continued smoothly and efficiently despite the robust precautionary measures in place including social distancing, the mandatory use of personal protective equipment, thermal screening, and nasal swab and polymerase chain reaction testing. These measures were in line with the recommendations and guidelines of the UAE's health and civil aviation authorities and the World Health Organisation."
The airport partnered with Pure Health, the largest laboratory operator in the region, to conduct the tests. Shaista Asif, chief operating officer of the laboratory operator, said: "For the project, we set up a special diagnostic system at the airport with registration desks for patients connected with passport and Emirates ID scanners. It leads to the swab screening area managed by medical professionals. The system includes logistics and supply chain channels of Pure Health's supply centre and a specialised laboratory," she added.
Tech helps fight spread of virus
Abu Dhabi Airports was among the first airport groups to implement a comprehensive testing regime across its facilities. It has other advanced tech in place:
> Touchless elevator controls
> Self-cleaning escalator handrails
> Sterilisation robots
> Thermal cameras powered by artificial intelligence
reporters@khaleejtimes.com 

• Abu Dhabi