202 passengers from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus, passed through a dedicated "health lane," away from the transit areas of other arriving passengers. The procedures established by authorities after the outbreak of the virus were applied to them for the first time. Special scanners checked the body temperatures of passengers on China Southern Airlines flight CZ 645, which landed at 4:50 a.m. at Fiumicino Airport. The airline flies to the airport three times a week. The Ministry of Health has decided to increase control measures and surveillance to prevent and address the risks associated with the novel coronavirus, similar to SARS, whose outbreak originated in Wuhan. In addition to screening, passengers on the flight (some had only transited through Wuhan and are arriving from other locations) will also be required to fill out a form indicating their destination and route upon disembarkation, in case the disease develops later, after the incubation period. The travelers, many of them wearing masks, were mostly Chinese, a few Italians, and an Australian couple. After disembarking, they were directed to a specially equipped screening room, away from other arriving passengers. Fiumicino Airport has a decentralized facility set up by ADR at the Ministry of Health's request to handle these types of cases, as the airport is also responsible for handling flights during health emergencies. The facility is equipped with the most advanced isolation systems to contain any potential infections. The images collected by the scanners were examined by medical staff to identify any passengers with fever or other symptoms. The passengers were then transported to the terminal to continue with the standard screening procedures for disembarkation and baggage claim. At Fiumicino Airport, a health procedure is in place, managed by the USMAF SASN Cross-border Health Security Unit in accordance with the 2005 International Health Regulations, to verify the possible presence of symptomatic cases on board aircraft arriving from Wuhan and their possible transfer to the Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious Diseases. A Red Cross vehicle, equipped with mobile technology, staffed by medical personnel and an IsoArk chamber for infection risk containment, emergency and assistance, was awaiting the flight, ready to respond should anyone on board be reported exhibiting suspicious symptoms. No suspected cases have been reported at this time.
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