UPDATE ON THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) BY AIR TRANSPORT AND TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF AIR TRAVELLERS AND THE AVIATION PERSONNEL.
In response to the ICAO State Letter Ref EC 6/3 – 20/46, dated 18 March 2020 and the information provided by Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh on 24 th March 2020 (Ref No 30.3.0000.111.48.001.19-192, dated 24th March 2020), please find the updated additional information on actions taken by Bangladesh on the above subject:
A) ADHERENCE TO RELEVANT ICAO ANNEX 9 – FACILITATION STANDARDS BY BANGLADESH:
1. In accordance with the Annex 9, Standard 8.19, Bangladesh established National Air Transport Facilitation Committees (NATFC) in 2015 and The National Air Transport Facilitation Programme (NATFP) of Bangladesh has been established in 2018.
2. A special meeting of that committee was held on 25 th March 2020 to ensure cross- sectional collaboration at the national level regarding actions to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) by air transport and to protect the health of air travelers and the aviation personnel;
3. In this COVID Outbreak situation, all concerned entities were reminded to adhere to applicable provisions of ICAO Annex-9 and implementation of NATFP. The new guidelines are being issued based on the changing situations and needs.
B) FLIGHT OPERATIONS:
1. All scheduled international commercial passenger flights to/from Bahrain, Bhutan, Hongkong, India, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, UAE and UK shall not be allowed to land at any airport in Bangladesh in 30 May 2020.
2. All Commercial Scheduled Domestic Passenger Flight operation has been suspended in phases till 30 May 2020.
3. Operations of Helicopter and General Aviation Air Operators of Bangladesh are limited to corporate, medevac, humanitarian or relief flights only with additional requirements on standard disinfection, hygiene and sanitization procedure for passenger, crew, equipment and aircraft (in flight or on ground) till 30 May 2020.
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4. A circular issued on suspension of Schedule International Flights To and From Bangladesh
5. International flights regarding Cargo, Emergency Landing, Technical Stop (Without crew rest), Medical Evacuation, Special Flight Operation, Relief/humanitarian assistance and Citizen Evacuation shall be conducted as usual with prior authorization, where applicable.
6. Directives for carriage of cargo in passenger compartments by Bangladeshi Helicopter Operators during COVID-19 situation has been issued.
7. Directives for carriage of cargo in passenger cabin by Foreign Operators operating schedule passenger flights in Bangladesh during COVID-19 outbreak has been issued.
8. Directives for carriage of cargo in passenger compartments during COVID-19 outbreak by Bangladeshi AOC holders has been issued.
C) PASSENGER REQUIREMENT AND RESTRICTIONS: Additional requirements / restrictions were imposed on international arrival passenger:
1. Foreigners having valid visas to produce a medical certificate (with English translation) to be obtained within 72 hours of travel, indicating that he/she does not have any symptoms of COVID-19 on arrival.
2. Bangladeshi nationals with NVR and without the required medical certificate would be institutionally quarantined for 14 (Fourteen) days.
3. Bangladeshi nationals with NVR and with the required medical certificate would be home/self-quarantined for 14 (Fourteen) days. If he/she is diagnosed with any symptom of Corona Virus on his/her arrival, he/she would be institutionally quarantined in for 14 (Fourteen) days.
D) SPECIAL GUIDELINES AND ADJUSTMENT OF REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS:
1. Sufficient guidelines have been provided for airport operator, aircraft operator, airport staff and aviation security personnel in accordance with ICAO, WHO, IATA, ACI guidelines.
2. National and airport level quick response team have been kept stand by in accordance with national contingency plan.
3. Additional requirements with guideline have been issued to airports for adjusting aviation security measures in the COVID-19 pandemic Situation.
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4. Necessary exemptions have been granted to all flight crew and cabin crew in terms of validity of license and training.
5. Validity period of certification and recurrent training of aviation security personnel under certain terms and conditions has been extended.
6. A comprehensive guideline for Air Operators on preventing spread of COVID-19 on commercial Aircraft has been issued.
7. A comprehensive guideline for airports on preventing spread of COVID-19 among airport staffs and travelling passengers has been issued.
Note: FURTHER DETAIL AND UPDATED INFORMATION MAY BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING LINK:
• Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB): https://caab.portal.gov.bd/site/view/notices • Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism (MoCAT) : https://mocat.gov.bd/ • Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR): https://www.iedcr.gov.bd/
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E) ACTIONS TAKEN BY HAZRAT SHAHJALAL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, DHAKA FOR PREVENTING COVID-19:
1. Health Screening
o Conduct temperature screening for arriving and/or departing passengers, airport visitors and staff
o Request health declaration/certificate from arriving passengers
o Provide standby healthcare officers at arrival gates in case of need for arriving passengers
2. Operational Measures
o Set up dedicated areas for suspected cases who require further checks or medical assistance o Set up designated area for health declaration for flights arriving from areas with active community transmission o Set up de-gowning area for medical personnel to divest and dispose Personal Protective Equipment o Assign designated parking stands and baggage reclaim belts for flights arriving from areas with active community transmission o Assign designated entry for passenger buses and crew buses for flights arriving from areas with active community transmission. o Provide basic comfort amenities for passengers being held for health checks, e.g. blankets, biscuits, and warm water. o Restrict access to critical operational control centers for persons who are strictly needed. o Suspend fingerprint use Barcode & access control for airport staff. 3. Hygienic Measures
o Increase frequency of cleaning and disinfection at all public areas within the terminals, especially the high contact areas, e.g. operation centers, toilets, carpets, self-check-in kiosks, baggage trolleys, lifts, handrails.
o Increase frequency of waste disposal to avoid accumulation of used masks in garbage containers.
o Strengthen air ventilation inside the terminals and cleaning of air-condition systems.
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o Install more hand-sanitizing stations inside the terminals, entrances to office buildings.
o Put disinfectant carpet in areas where most passengers pass through, e.g. immigration counters and moving walkway.
o Provide Personal Protective Equipment to airport frontline staff, e.g. mask, gloves and protective eyewear.
o Request all staff of shops to wear face masks at work.
o Disinfect passenger and crew buses after use and reduce the number of vehicles used.
o Sanitize changing rooms immediately after each change of shift.
o Installation of Disinfection Booth in entrance of pax, staff and crew.
o Installation of Disinfection Water point to disinfect hand in all entry points.
o Increase disinfection of all areas used for a flight operation after each operation.
o Disinfection of total area of airport which includes driveways, perimeter, apron, VVIP complex.
4. Social Distancing Measures
o Maintain adequate spacing, i.e. minimum 1 meter , between passengers at queueing.
o Rearrange or remove seating at waiting areas, departure gates, or food courts to maintain distance between people.
o Suspend dine-in services at airport restaurants and bars.
o Restrict access of farewellers and greeters into the terminal building and offer in return extended free carparking to make it easier for people wanting to pick up or drop off their friends and family.
o Close airport facilities, e.g. smoking rooms, areas and praying rooms, to minimize gathering of people.
5. Aviation Security Screening Measures
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o Operate security lanes that are not adjacent to each other to provide additional separation.
o Encourage security screening staff to wear gloves and provide hand sanitizers for them.
o Increase frequency of cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces and security screening equipment, e.g. x-ray machine console, baggage trays, divestment and repack areas.
o Avoid face-to-face with passengers or other persons being screened if there is a need for security screeners to conduct hand search.
o Alcohol based hand rub is available in all security point.
6. HR Measures
o Check staff travel history and enforce self-quarantine if deemed necessary.
o Set up alternate teams of employees (e.g. Team A & Team B) who can be deployed at different work schedules and they should be physically segregated to minimize infection between teams.
o Implement Work from Home Policy for non-operational staff or staff residing with person(s) who has/have already been put under compulsory home quarantine to minimize risk of cross-infection.
o Conduct temperature check for on-duty staff.
o Allow flexible working hours to avoid using public transport during peak hours.
o Minimize face-to-face meetings and shorten meeting duration.
o Conduct daily briefings at open areas or replace it by emails or video conferences.
o Provide meals at the airport for staff to reduce trips to the outside and avoid contamination.
o Suspend all business travel to overseas countries.
7. Communication
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o Ensure effective communication channels with government department and disseminate information to external stakeholders in transparent and timely manner.
o Distribute health information in the form of posters, videos, leaflets and public announcement on virus symptoms, preventive measures and health center contacts for arriving passengers.
o Establish strong communication in each shift of all organization with other shift for early response of infected cases.
8. Emergency Reponses
o Set up special task force or contingency working group with relevant stakeholders to coordinate implementation of measures and to provide regular updates for staff and contractors.
o Develop contingency plan and procedures with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the level of response is commensurate with the risk posed.
o Assign a dedicated person or team to be the focal point of contact with the local health authority to ensure efficient and effective coordination.
9. Monitoring Activities by QA
o Increase monitoring of internal review of live an playback CCTV footage.
o Observation of CCTV to monitor social and create social distancing instantly.
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