- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water (preferably antibacterial) or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Avoid contact with other people.
- When you cough and sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or use a disposable tissue. Discard the tissue immediately and wash your hands.
- Avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever and cough.
- If you present symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath, contact the medical service.
- Avoid the consumption of raw or undercooked animal products.
- Raw meat, milk or animal organs must be handled with care, to avoid cross contamination with raw food, in accordance with good food safety practices.
- When visiting markets in areas that are exposed to poor sanitation, avoid direct, unprotected contact with live animals and any animal contact surfaces.
- Raise your defenses:
- Drink lots of water. Consume between 10 and 12 glasses of water a day stimulates the immune system.
- Consume Vitamin C: oranges, tangerines, pineapples, lemons and strawberries.
- Be active and practice exercise.
- Installation of a thermo-graphic and heat motion sensors camera on the arrival and departure terminals as well as in passenger transit area.
- Installation of a monitoring station with trained personnel from the Ministry of Public Health. There will be a primary care space with public health personnel at the check-in counter area.
This room is equipped with:
- Hand wash
- Chairs
- Desk
- Stretcher (if necessary)
- Personal protection items, among others
- Air conditioning with inverted air flow and special filters
In the event that a client must be transferred the Ministry of Public Health will have an ambulance equipped and prepared for these purposes.
Prior to leaving the primary care room to be transferred, the passenger must wear a mask, gloves, and a prevention suit, depending on the case.
- Provision of isolation space for initial inspection by the personnel of the Ministry of Public Health.
- Ambulances are equipped to quickly and effectively support the Ministry of Public Health.
- Action protocol in the event of possible cases, both in aircraft and in terminal areas, following the guidelines of the Ministry of Public Health and other local and international organizations.
- Installation in strategic areas of the terminals of Gel Antiseptics Dispensers with an alcohol degree higher than 60%.
Expansion between lanes in the immigration area at the arrival terminals, and the installation of a Boarding Pass Reader for direct scan by the passenger at the departure gates and at security Check Point. These will be located at:
- Check point entrance
- Positive verification from CESAC at check point
- Boarding process at the gates
- Increase of self check-in kiosks, in order to maintain the physical distance among passengers.
- Three template marks will be placed on the floor in front of each kiosk to indicate physical distance.
- Are allowed only three passengers in front of the kiosks to ensure physical distance.
- Airline personnel and / or handlers must offer permanent assistance to passengers in the use of kiosks, keeping the physical distance of one meter.
- Use of Body Scanner for passenger verification without the intervention of personnel in the check point.
- Check-Point protocol – CESAC.
- The CESAC agents will allow the self-verification of the boarding passes by the passengers; however, they will carry out positive verification through the passport.
- The passenger verification process will be through Body Scanner, metal detection arches, and the assistance of manual detectors to minimize manual verification.
- Screen Guard Protection in check-in counter, immigration, CESAC checkpoint, boarding gate and tour operator’s counters.
ATM’s AND PARKING PAYMENT
Information will be available at the entrance to the ATM room and parking payment notifying the following:
- Only 3 people allowed inside the room.
- Mandatory use of face masks.
- Maintain physical distance of 1 meter.
Deep cleaning will be performed through disinfection and hygiene protocols in all areas of the airport.
- Increased cleaning and disinfection of all areas of the airport. Increased frequency of Tennant Machines in all terminals.
- Use of chemical broad spectrum for the disinfection of all areas of the airport.
- Intensification of the cleaning of the interior ventilation including air filters.
- Continuous disinfection of terminals in the meantime during gaps that arise in operations
- Increased disinfection of all operational equipment.
In order to reduce the risk of contagion by physical contact, Puntacana International Airport includes the following actions to daily operations:
Physical spacing in rows: placement of floor markers to reinforce physical distancing in areas with high flow traffic, such as the Transit Hall, Check Point, Immigration and Customs.
Signage in immigration counters to reinforce physical distancing.
Reduction of passengers from 40% to 50% in the co-bus transportation, in order to avoid crowds.
Immigration protocol:
- They will instruct passengers to stay 1 meter away from the counter until they are called.
- 3 passengers will be allowed in front of each immigration counter, keeping the distance of 1 meter marked on the floor.
- For the automated departure immigration (E-Gates) process, the passenger must wait for the call of the immigration officer to carry out their immigration process.
- Passengers in line in front of E-Gates will not be allowed.
Gates allocation:
Gates will be assigned taking into account the number of passengers between departure lounges as a measure of physical distancing, this until operations allow.
Allocation of baggage claim belts.
The flights between belts will be assigned taking into account the physical distancing as operations allow.
Physical distancing queue lines:
As a preventive measure of health, physical distancing will be applied in all queue lines of the terminals as follows:
Installation of yellow tapes that read “step here”, 1 meter away from each other, within each queue line.
All queues of the terminals will be expanded to comply with the preventive health and safety measures and protocols. The locations of these queue lines are:
- Security Check point
- Departure immigration
- Arrival immigration
- Customs
- Transit area
- Boarding gates
- Trace machines
Baggage trolleys
- The carts arranged on the baggage claim belts will be reduced to 10 carts per belt, reducing its use and contact with the passenger.
- The cars used by passengers will be placed at the exit of the airport, where they will be sanitized by the concierge management prior to reuse.
Kids' playground:
- Kid’s playground in the terminals will be closed until further notice as part of preventive health measures to avoid possible spread through social contact.
- There will be signage indicating their closure.
Nursery room:
- Information will be available allowing only 2 people with their children to breastfeed as preventive health measures.
Development of a continuous communication campaign in the areas of terminals and passenger access:
Placement of notice at the information booth and Immigration areas to maintain the limit of passengers with signs and videos on prevention and health measures that includes: hand washing, physical distancing and disinfection of personal objects.
The signs on prevention and health and safety protocols will be displayed at the following points:
- Form filling tables
- Information booth
- Check in kiosks
- Check in counter entry and exit queue line
- Queue line entry at boarding gates
- Informative murals for community partners
- Passenger drop off area
- Entry and exit queue line security check point
- Entry and exit queue line immigration departure / arrival
- Customs queue line entry
- Nursery room
- Transit area
- Signage with hand washing recommendation to place in all bathrooms of our airport.
Hand Sanitizing Gel Stations
Additional hand sanitizing gel stations are being installed throughout the airport:
- Customs / immigration form filing tables
- Check-in area
- Departure / arrival immigration
- Security check point
- Boarding gates
- Tour Operators
- Rent a car
- Vacation club
- Customs
- ATM’s room and parking payment
- VIP lounges
- Nursery room
The use of mask is mandatory for passengers and for all staff who have contact with them and are in the terminal area. As well as the mandatory use of personal protective equipment.
The authorized dealers for the sale of personal protection kit will be the Melo pharmacy and Brisas del Caribe. This kit will consist of:
- Mask
- Gloves
- Hand sanitizing gel
Instructional video on preventive health & safety measures and passenger assistance during arriving or departure will be display at:
- Check in counters
- Security check point
- Departure gates
- Arrival and departure immigration
- Departure and arrival information screens
The following protocol is established in the Airside area:
Landing rules:
- Upon entering the terminal, they will continue with the physical distancing measures establish, at least 1 meter (3 feet) from people, in the areas of:
- Immigration
- Baggage Claim
- Customs
- Tour Operators
Aircraft with suspicious cases:
Parking Rules
The positioning of the aircraft upon arrival at the station will be carried out in Terminal B.
| Allocation Order | |
| Aircraft A | Position B28 |
| Aircraft B | Position B30 |
| Aircraft C | Position B27 |
| Aircraft D | Position B29 |
| Aircraft E | Position B31 |
| Aircraft F...L | Upon availability |
The protocol established by the Ministry of Public Health of the Dominican Republic will be executed along with the Airline and the Airport Administration.
Inside the Aircraft
Activate on-board procedures for cabin crew to handle sick travelers, activate the protocol recommended by the WHO along with the airline's protocol and ICAO Annex 9.
The crew in command must inform the airport to activate the arrival protocol for the aircraft, which is activated with the sanitary measures established by the Ministry of Public Health of the Dominican Republic.
Aircraft with suspicious cases:
Landing rules
Symptomatic travelers should disembark from the aircraft following the instructions of the airport health authority to minimize the risk of contaminating other passengers, crew members and ground personnel. Moving on the bus assigned for these purposes.
Symptomatic travelers will be evaluated for their condition and transfer to the designated airport facility (temporary isolation room) and, if they meet the definition of a suspected case, will be transfer to a designated health care facility.
Government and Public Health passengers’ procedures will be carried out in the area assigned for these purposes according to the following order and at the discretion of the local authorities together with the airport administration.
ZONE 1 - FBO TERMINAL
ZONE 2 - TERMINAL B
ZONE 3 - TERMINAL A
Any other area assigned by the authorities.
The disembarkation of passengers will be carried out using the AVIRAMP motorized gangways and / or stairs located in the parking lots of the aircraft.
The transfer to the establish areas will be made by buses.
When using the buses, the criteria established by the Ground Handler ais 30% capacity and the rules located inside the buses will be applied (See use of Buses).
Upon entering the assigned ZONE, they will continue with the rule of physical distancing at a distance of at least 1 meter (3 feet) from people.
The entry processes will be applied according to the regulations of the local authorities.
The baggage delivery will be done following the protocol and after finishing the customs process. (X-Ray, Baggage Scan and Delivery to the Passenger)
After completing the processes with all passengers, the recommendations and instructions of the Ministry of Public Health of the Dominican Republic will be followed.
The management of the contacts will be carried out according with the instructions of the local public health authority. The airport health authority should promptly update the airline on the outcome of the examinations and whether additional measures should be taken.
Aircraft with suspicious cases:
Post-arrival
The WHO recommended Hygiene and Sanitation plan will be applied along with the Ministry of Public Health, the airport administration, service providers and those indicated in ICAO Annex 9.
ZONE disinfection
After the Government and Public Health processes for passengers are completed, an area disinfection process will be carried out using detergent followed by a common household disinfectant that contains 0.1% sodium hypochlorite equivalent to 1000 ppm). Surfaces should be rinsed with clean water after 10 minutes contact for chlorine.
BUS disinfection
The protocol established by the Ground Handler will be applied along with the World Health Organization measures.
Aircraft Disinfection:
The protocol established by the airline along with the World Health Organization measures will be applied.
Aircraft Dispatch:
After applying the Hygiene and Sanitation protocols to the aircraft, the departure process will continue as usual as designated by the airline and the airport administration.
Tracing
Protocols will be executed by local health authorities.
Aircraft for boarding:
Boarding Rules
The assignment of boarding gates will be made according to the table below and at the discretion of the Airport Administration.
| Combination of Resources | Combination of Resources | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Boarding Gate | Position | Boarding Gate |
| 7 | 7, 6, 5, 2, 1 | 11 | See Note 1 |
| 6 | 2, 1 | 2 | See Note 1 |
| 8 | 8, 7 | 1 | See Note 1 |
| 5 | 1 | RN5 | See Note 1 |
| 9 | 9, 8 | RN4 | See Note 1 |
| 4 | See Note 1 | RN3 | See Note 1 |
| 7 | See Note 1 | RN2 | See Note 1 |
| 7 | See Note 1 | RN1 | See Note 1 |
Passengers will board according to the protocol established by the airlines along with local rules, they will follow the physical distancing measures of at least 1 meter (3 feet) from people, will walk from the boarding gate to the aircraft if the aircraft is parked in positions 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 & 4. (See Note 1)
Note 1: The path from the terminal to the aircraft will be conditioned by the following factors: number of passengers, distance to walk, use of buses and distance between passengers.
Employee well-being and training
- Increase the health monitoring of employees through:
- Temperature screening upon arrival at the work area.
- Health control in the medical office.
- Mandatory use of masks and gloves according to government regulations.
- Deep cleaning and disinfection of work vehicles and personnel transportation.
- Physical distance regulations in common use areas.
- Our employees have been rigorously trained regarding our health and safety protocols, emphasizing the importance of physical distancing and constant hand washing.
| Possible Point of Contagion | Measures / Actions |
|---|---|
| Employees arrival (start of working day) | 1) Always wear a mask. 2) Wash the hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before starting work. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if do not have soap and water. |
| Access Points to Sterile Zone | 1) Always wear a mask and gloves. 2) Enter the sterile area only when it is imminently necessary for the operation, avoid rush hours. 3) Avoid crowding in the row and keep the distance. 4) Show your access card without being touched. For this, always keep it visible. 5) Always take all your belongings from the baskets. 6) Push the doors of the employee area with your knees or elbows, avoiding use of your hands. 7) Wash your hands frequently with soap and water with gloves on. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if you do not have soap and water. |
| Passenger Areas | 1) Always wear a mask and gloves. 2) When entering the passenger area, keep the relevant distance (minimum 1 meter away). 3) Wash your hands frequently with soap and water with gloves on. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if you do not have soap and water. |
| Tools | 1) Frequently clean and disinfect work tools. 2) Avoid using the work tools of other collaborators, whenever possible. If necessary, clean and disinfect them before and after use. 3) Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, every time you disinfect tools. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if you do not have soap and water. |
| Information Points | 1) Use mask and gloves. 2) Clean and disinfect the objects and surfaces with which the customer comes into contact (counter, etc.), between customer and customer. 3) Wash your hands frequently with soap and water with gloves on. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if you do not have soap and water. |
| VIP / Terminal Supervisor / Queue Line / Security | 1) Always use a mask and gloves. 2) Maintain distance, minimum 1 meter. 3) Wash your hands frequently with soap and water with gloves on. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if you do not have soap and water. 4) Avoid touching the passenger's documents. Each passenger will be responsible for filling out the required forms. |
| Concierge | 1) Clean and disinfect cleaning utensils before using them. 2) Avoid using the cleaning utensils of another collaborator, whenever possible. If necessary, clean and disinfect them before and after use. 3) Wash your hands frequently with soap and water with gloves on. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if you do not have soap and water. 4) Always wear a mask and gloves. |
| Maintenance Services | 1) Always wear a mask and gloves. 2) Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, including every time you remove your gloves. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if you do not have soap and water. 3) When interacting with clients, keep a minimum distance of 1 meter, whenever possible. |
| Porters | 1) Use a mask and gloves. 2) Clean and disinfect the carts, every time you finish serving a customer. 3) Wash your hands frequently with soap and water with gloves on. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if you do not have soap and water. |
| Kiosk Staff | 1) Frequently clean and disinfect the contact surface (keyboard, screen, printer, etc.) 2) Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, after using the Kiosk. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if you don't have soap and water |
| Staff departure (end of working day) | 1) Always wear a mask. 2) Take off gloves and dispose of them in the trash (if they are not PPE). 3) Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if you do not have soap and water. 4) Disinfect footwear before getting on the transport. |
- 1. Procedures for surveillance of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Ministry of Public Health of the Dominican Republic
- 2. Public Health Form to locate the passenger
- 3. Traveler's Health Affidavit Form (MSP-DJSV-01)
- 4. Instructive Commitment of the Traveler (MSP-VE-ICV-01)
- 5. Protocol for the Prevention and Mitigation of propagation (COVID-19). Ground Handler - AVIAM.
- 6. https://www.icao.int/Security/COVID-19/Pages/default.aspx
- 7. Operational considerations for managing COVID-19 cases or outbreak in aviation. Interim guidance. March 18, 2020. WHO
- 8. European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC): Safety Information Bulletin Aerodromes - Operations. SIB No.: 2020-02R4. 07 April 2020
- 9. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/novel-coronavirus-china
- 10. World Health Organization (WHO): International travel and health. Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation reports. Passenger locator form
- 11. https://www.paho.org/es/temas/coronavirus/enfermedad-por-coronavirus-covid-19
- 12. https://www.who.int/en/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
- 13. https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/air/managing-sick-travelers/commercial-aircraft/infection-control-cabin-crew.html
- 14. https://www.iata.org/en/programs/safety/health/diseases/
Health & Safety Measures:
- 1. Operational procedures in arrivals, departures and passenger registration have been reformulated to minimize physical contact.
- 2. We have restructured operational procedures to reduce crowds in aircraft boarding, immigration and security.
- 3. Constant disinfection of all contact areas, waiting areas and operation areas.
- 4. Disinfection of all passenger assistance utensils from luggage carts to trays.
- 5. Our staff receives continuous training on preventive health measures.
- 6. All food is produced and packaged following strict safety regulations. Food available in the lounge is individually packaged.
- 7. All areas and staff are equipped with protection and prevention equipment, from mandatory face masks to UV-C lights.
VIP Service Protocols:
- 1. Upon arrival, passengers are received in a golf cart, properly disinfected by our staff, after each use.
- 2. Passengers shall carry all their documents with them, in order to avoid contact with the passenger personal effects.
- 3. Optional use of luggage porters. The service will available upon request.
- 4. Reduced number of passengers received in the VIP Lounges, to avoid agglomerations and to meet the required physical distancing protocols.
- 5. The assistant will escort and accommodate the passengers to their seats, in order to ensure the required physical distancing protocols in the lounge.
- 6. Proper disinfection of tables every time passengers leave their occupied areas, ensuring cleanness when receiving new passengers.
- 7. Personal and individually packed food will be offered to avoid handling by passengers in the buffet area.
VIP SERVICES PROTOCOLS
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Based on the information provided, it seems that the article is discussing health and safety measures related to the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 at an airport. The measures mentioned include personal hygiene practices, installation of cameras and monitoring stations, provision of isolation spaces, expansion of lanes, installation of hand sanitizing gel dispensers, increased cleaning and disinfection, physical distancing measures, and employee well-being and training protocols.
To provide more detailed information on each concept mentioned in the article, let's break it down into sections:
Personal Hygiene Practices:
The article emphasizes the importance of personal hygiene practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These practices include:
- Washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Avoiding touching the face.
- Covering the mouth and nose with the elbow or a disposable tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- Discarding used tissues immediately and washing hands afterwards.
- Avoiding close contact with anyone who has a fever and cough.
- Avoiding the consumption of raw or undercooked animal products.
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Installation of Cameras and Monitoring Stations:
The article mentions the installation of thermo-graphic and heat motion sensors cameras on the arrival and departure terminals, as well as in passenger transit areas. It also mentions the installation of a monitoring station with trained personnel from the Ministry of Public Health. These measures are aimed at detecting potential cases of COVID-19 and ensuring the safety of passengers and staff.
Provision of Isolation Spaces:
The article states that there will be a primary care space equipped with hand wash facilities, chairs, desks, stretchers (if necessary), personal protection items, air conditioning with inverted air flow and special filters, and other necessary equipment. This space is intended for passengers who may require medical attention or isolation due to COVID-19 symptoms.
Expansion of Lanes and Physical Distancing Measures:
To maintain physical distancing among passengers, the article mentions the expansion of lanes in the immigration area at the arrival terminals. It also mentions the installation of boarding pass readers for direct scanning by passengers at the departure gates and security check points. Additionally, the article states that the number of self check-in kiosks will be increased to maintain physical distance, and floor markers will be placed in front of each kiosk to indicate physical distance. The article also mentions physical distancing measures in queue lines at various areas of the airport, such as security check points, departure and arrival immigration, customs, and transit areas.
Increased Cleaning and Disinfection:
The article highlights the increased cleaning and disinfection protocols in all areas of the airport. This includes the use of Tennant Machines, chemical broad spectrum disinfectants, and intensified cleaning of interior ventilation and air filters. The article also mentions the increased disinfection of operational equipment and the reduction of baggage trolleys on the baggage claim belts to minimize contact.
Employee Well-being and Training:
The article mentions various measures to ensure the well-being of airport employees. These measures include temperature screening upon arrival at the work area, health control in the medical office, mandatory use of masks and gloves, deep cleaning and disinfection of work vehicles and personnel transportation, and physical distancing regulations in common use areas. The article also mentions that employees have received rigorous training on health and safety protocols, including physical distancing and hand hygiene.
These are the main concepts discussed in the article regarding health and safety measures at the airport to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It is important to note that these measures may vary depending on the specific airport and local regulations.
