MILAN – A global aviation manual now under review by a UN body suggests global guidelines calling for the use of highly reliable tests when screening passengers to detect the novel coronavirus ahead of flights, three sources familiar with the matter said.
Carriers and airports are pushing for uniform global testing guidelines to waive strict quarantine a requirements that are decimating travel, with airline trade group IATA forecasting a 66% decline in 2020 air traffic because of the pandemic.
Travel restrictions and the use of testing now vary globally. Certain airlines require passengers to obtain a negative test, even as some countries allow visitors in without quarantine, while others bar all non – essential foreigners.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Manual on Testing and Cross Border Risk Management Measures, expected in November, would offer voluntary technical guidance but not oblige countries to remove quarantines.
The manual is not expected to suggest specific tests, such as antigen or polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the sources said. Instead, it would recommend passengers be screened using a test with a sensitivity and specificity of 95% so there would be few false positive and negatives, the sources added.
Some rapid tests are less sensitive and therefore more likely to miss positive cases than PCR alternatives, although the accuracy gap has narrowed.
One of the source said a range of tests, with reliability as low as around 80% to close to 100%, had initially been considered.
Another proposal is that passengers be tested up to 48 hours ahead of travel but not necessarily at the airport, the sources said. The sources declined to be identified as the discussion are confidential.
U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Deputy Administrator Dan Elwell told Reuters on Wednesday that the manual would be ‘heavy handed’ or provide a prescription for testing. He did not confirm specific details about the manual.
‘It’s like ‘look, if you are going to do pre-departure testing or arrival testing or quarantine, here’s how we think you should do it’, said Elwell, who heads an ICAO working group on issues like testing and quarantines.
ICAO said in an emailed statement the manual provides countries with a risk management framework for evaluating testing options and factors to consider, should a country elect to implement testing.
While the United States ‘would like to get to a point where quarantine is not necessary’, Elwell said, it would be difficult to create global guidelines for removing travel restrictions through testing since countries have individual concerns’, he said.
‘There are a lot mixed feelings about quarantines’.
Macron, Merkel Vow To Cooperate Closely Until New German Government Is Formed
Paris / France – – German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron pledged on Thursday to keep working closely together until a new German government is formed after the Sept. 26 polls in which Merkel is not a candidate. In 16 years in power, Merkel has known four French presidents and has built … More Macron, Merkel Vow To Cooperate Closely Until New German Government Is Formed
Saudi – Led Coalition Thwarts Houthi Missile And Drones Attack – Media
Dubai / UAE – – The Saudi – led coalition said late on Thursday that it thwarted and destroyed four Houthi explosives – laden drones and a ballistic rocket fired in the direction of the southern Saudi city of Jazan, Saudi state media reported. The Saudi – led military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015, … More Saudi – Led Coalition Thwarts Houthi Missile And Drones Attack – Media
Macron Says French French Forces Killed Islamic State Leader In Sahara
Paris / France — French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that French military forces had killed Islamic Adnan Abu Walid al – Sahrawi, the leader of Islamic State in the Greater Sahara. ‘It’s another major success in our fight against terrorist groups in the Sahel’, Macron said in a tweet, without disclosing the location of … More Macron Says French French Forces Killed Islamic State Leader In Sahara
Putin To Remain In COVID – 19 Isolation For Days As Dozens In Entourage Ill
Moscow / Russia – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he would have to spend ‘a few days’ in self – isolation after dozens of people in his entourage fell ill with COVID – 19, the TASS news agency reported. Putin was speaking through a video link at a summit of Russia – led … More Putin To Remain In COVID – 19 Isolation For Days As Dozens In Entourage Ill
Saudi Crown Prince Launches ‘Human Capability Development’ Program
Riyadh / Saudi Arabia – – Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched a new program on Wednesday as part of Saudi Vision 2030 plans and a national strategy to ‘strengthen citizen’s capabilities locally and globally’. ‘The Human Capability Development Program represents a national strategy to enhance the competitiveness of national human capabilities locally … More Saudi Crown Prince Launches ‘Human Capability Development’ Program
Vladimir Putin Is To Self – Isolate After COVID – 19 Detected In Entourage – Kremlin
Moscow / Russia – – Russian President Vladimir Putin will go into self isolation after cases of the new coronavirus were detected in his entourage and will therefore not travel to Tajikistan this week for regional security meeting, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Sends Message To Algeria’s President Via Foreign Minister
Riyadh / Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has sent a message to Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune via the kingdom’s foreign minister regarding the ‘historical brotherly relations’ and joint cooperation between the two countries, according to state – run Saudi Press Agency. The message was conveyed by Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin … More Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Sends Message To Algeria’s President Via Foreign Minister
UAE Lifts Ban On Entry From Certain Countries For Vaccinated Residents
Dubai/UAE – – The United Arab Emirates said on Friday residents who had been fully vaccinated with a shot approved by the World Health Organization could return as of Sept.12 from a list of previously suspended countries. Dubai, one of the UAE’s seven emirates, is due to open the EXPO 2020 world fair on Oct.1 … More UAE Lifts Ban On Entry From Certain Countries For Vaccinated Residents
Dubai’s Emirates To Resume Flights To Saudi Arabia After COVID – 19 Ban Lifted
Dubai/UAE – – Dubai carrier Emirates Airline will be resuming flights to Saudi Arabia starting from September 11, following the Kingdom’s announcement that it would lift COVID – 19 travel restrictions on the United Arab Emirates. ‘From Saturday, 11 September, Emirates will begin operating 24 weekly flights to Saudi Arabia, including daily flights to the … More Dubai’s Emirates To Resume Flights To Saudi Arabia After COVID – 19 Ban Lifted
Saudi Arabia Extends Iqama, Visit, Exist And Re – Entry Visas For Free Till Nov. 30
Riyadh / Saudi Arabia – – Saudi General Directorate Of Passports has started to automatically extend the validity of residence permits (Iqama) for expatriates outside the Kingdom as well as vist visas and exit and re – entry visas without fees or charge until Nov.30. The decision implements the directives of King Salman. The extension, … More Saudi Arabia Extends Iqama, Visit, Exist And Re – Entry Visas For Free Till Nov. 30
Saudi Arabia’s MDLBEAST Announces Lineup For 2021 SOUNDSTORM Festival
Riyadh / Saudi Arabia – – Saudi Arabia’s MDLBEAST has unveiled the official lineup for its 2021 SOUNDSTROM festival, a record – setting event that launched as MDLBEAST Festival in December. Being staged in Riyadh from Dec.16 to 19, SOUNDSTORM will feature musicians from around the world with more than 150 superstar and international dance … More Saudi Arabia’s MDLBEAST Announces Lineup For 2021 SOUNDSTORM Festival
China’s Boasteel, Aramco Ink Pact On Saudi Steel Plate Factory
Milan / Italy – – Boashan & Steel Co Ltd (Boasteel), China;s biggest listed steelmaker, said on Wednesday it had signed an initial pact with the world’s top crude oil producer Saudi Aramco to study building a steel plate factory in Saudi Arabia. The nonbinding memorandum of understanding was one of a number of agreements … More China’s Boasteel, Aramco Ink Pact On Saudi Steel Plate Factory
Abu Dhabi Wealth Fund To Focus On Tech, Climate Chance After COVID – 19
Abu Dhabi / UAE – – Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), the United Arab Emirates’ biggest sovereign wealth fund, sees technology and climate change as key investment areas for its post – COVID – 10 strategy, it said its 2020 annual review. ADIA, which manages capital on behalf of the oil – rich Abu Dhabi … More Abu Dhabi Wealth Fund To Focus On Tech, Climate Chance After COVID – 19
Saudi Arabia Re – Allows Entry From And Travel To UAE, Argentina And South Africa
Paris / France – – Saudi Arabia has lifted a COVID – 19 travel ban will allow the resumption of travel between the Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, and South Africa starting from September 8, the Ministry Of Interior announced on Tuesday. The ministry added that based on continuous monitoring of the epidemiological … More Saudi Arabia Re – Allows Entry From And Travel To UAE, Argentina And South Africa
