EXCLUSIVE: Egypt to install thermal scanners at Cairo International Airport to detect COVID-19 cases

CAIRO – 16 May 2020: The Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation will operate flights to return stranded Egyptians in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE amid the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, following direct orders by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Airports have also begun installing high-resolution thermal cameras to detect COVID-19 cases upon their arrival, according to exclusive statements provided to Egypt Today's media office at the Cairo International Airport.

This will be considered the first operation for the Sphinx International Airport, located on the Cairo-Alexandria desert road.



Returning citizens will be transferred to Beni Suef to preserve social distancing after their examination at the airport’s health quarantine.

Passengers returning to the country must spend 14 days in designated isolation areas, according to World Health Organization recommendation to ensure that the returnees are not infected.

It is scheduled that EgyptAir will operate three flights to Kuwait, Dubai and Riyadh, and return to Marsa Alam.

Air Cairo, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Aviation, will also operate three flights to Abu Dhabi, including two flights, which will land at Sphinx Airport in western Cairo, and the last one will land at Marsa Alam Airport.

Statistics conducted on the number of Egyptians returning abroad to Marsa Alam International Airport during the past 60 days so far show that flights arrived repatriating around 7,000 stranded citizens from over 30 countries, following orders by President Sisi.

Egypt has suspended flights since March 19, with exception to five cases: Air cargo flights, international ambulance trips, domestic flights within the country, and charter trips to enable tourists to return to their countries after the end of their programs, without allowing in new tourists.

The sources pointed out that the airport has never received such huge numbers of passengers over a short period of time since its establishment which proves its capabilities.