To monitor visitors from Singapore, thermal scanners have been set up in Indonesia’s airports and seaports, including those in Pekanbaru and Batam.
The installation follows news that Singapore has confirmed its first case of Monkeypox last week, when a 38-year old Nigerian was tested positive for the rare virus.
State-owned airport operator, PT Angkasa Pura II (AP II) has said that it is currently working with the port health office (KKP) to monitor 13 of Indonesia’s international airports.
“One of the ways is by installing thermal scanners at airports. If they identify suspected patients, necessary measures will be taken,” said Yado Yarismano, vice president of AP II.
PT Angkasa Pura I (AP I), another state-owned airport operator which manages airports in central and eastern Indonesia, has also released a statement confirming that they will also set up thermal scanners in their international airports.
A spokesperson for KKP added that the scanners are very effective in detecting body temperatures above normal level. “The machine will beep when it detects passengers with a body temperature above 38 degree celsius. A red indicator will be displayed, and the images of the said passengers will be recorded,” KKP doctor, Dr Risnandar Nasution explained. Symptoms of an infected person include fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, back pain, and muscle pain. Rashes generally appear within 1-3 days after fever.
Source: Channel News Asia
Image: Channel News Asia