Piedmont Triad – If you are flying from Piedmont Triad International Airport over the next few weeks, you may notice more staff than usual wiping down handrails on escalators, cleaning door handles, sanitizing baggage claim areas and disinfecting seats at gate areas.
The Airport Authority is taking these measures to reduce the risk of the coronavirus being spread on public surfaces that airport staff refers to as “touch points” – common areas where the virus could be picked up by touch.
Airport staff began taking these precautions when the first reports of the coronavirus surfaced in news media several weeks ago. At that time, operations personnel began stocking sanitizing chemicals and scheduling additional staff to perform the extra cleaning duties.
In addition to following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control, the airport operations staff is coordinating efforts with other public institutions, Cone Health and the Guilford County Health Department. Meetings are being held to monitor public health efforts and to track places where the disease has been detected.
While appropriate measures can reduce the risk of exposure, the Airport Authority is also encouraging passengers to follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control to help prevent the spread of this respiratory disease. These include:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
These are everyday habits that can help prevent the spread of several viruses. The Centers for Disease Control has specific guidance for travelers at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/novel-coronavirus-china.