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’.
King Salman Heads Saudi Arabia’s First In – Person Cabinet Session Since Pandemic
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdul Aziz headed on Tuesday the first in – person Cabinet meeting in Riyadh since COVID-19 disrupted activities globally. The Council of Ministers met at the al – Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Tuesday to discuss a range of events front recent leaps made in bilateral ties with a number … More King Salman Heads Saudi Arabia’s First In – Person Cabinet Session Since Pandemic
Saudi Arabia To Host LEAP Tech Conference To Address Future Challenges
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia will host the global technology conference LEAP on Feb.1 to 3 in Riyadh to address future challenges, as it consolidates its digital regional and global leadership. Targeting the attendance of 40,000 local and international visitors, the conference will involve over 350 speakers from 80 countries, as well as 700 … More Saudi Arabia To Host LEAP Tech Conference To Address Future Challenges
U.S. Citizens In UAE Warned To Maintain Security Awareness – Embassy Website
DUBAI – The U.S. Embassy and Consultate in the United Arab Emirates advised its citizens in the country to ‘maintain a high level of security awareness’ in a statement on Monday, following reports of a possible missile attack and accompanying missile defence activity over Abu Dhabi earlier in the morning. Such Statement are rare, for … More U.S. Citizens In UAE Warned To Maintain Security Awareness – Embassy Website
UAE Intercepts Houthi Attack, Saudi Arabia Reports Two Injured By Fallen Missile
PARIS, France – The United Arab Emirates intercepted and destroyed two Houthi ballistic missiles targeting the Gulf country on Monday with no causalities, its defence ministry said, following a deadly attack a week earlier. Fore more than six years, Yemen’s Houthis have been battling a Saudi – led coalition that includes the UAE, repeatedly carrying … More UAE Intercepts Houthi Attack, Saudi Arabia Reports Two Injured By Fallen Missile
Saudi – Led Coalition Says Houthi Missile Fell In Industrial Zone
PARIS, France – The Saudi – led coalition fighting in Yemen said a ballistic missile fired by the Iran – aligned Houthi movement had fallen in a southern industrial zone, state media reported on Sunday. A resident sustained minor injuries in the attack, according to the official Saudi Press Agency, which added that it was … More Saudi – Led Coalition Says Houthi Missile Fell In Industrial Zone
UAE Grounds Most Private Drones For A Month After Houthi Attack
PARIS, France – The United Arab Emirates has grounded most private drones and light sports aircraft used for recreational purposes for a month starting Saturday, the Interior Ministry said, following a deadly attack his week by Yemen’s Houthis on the Gulf country. The UAE has said that the Iran – aligned Houthi movement used cruise … More UAE Grounds Most Private Drones For A Month After Houthi Attack
FDA Expands Use Of Remdesivir To Patients With High Risk Of Hospitalization
PARIS, France – The U.S. health regulator on Friday expanded its approval for the use of Gilead Sciences’ antiviral drug remdesivir to treat non – hospitalized patients 12 years and older for the treatment of mild – to – moderate COVID -19 disease with high risk of hospitalization. Previously, the use of Veklury was limited … More FDA Expands Use Of Remdesivir To Patients With High Risk Of Hospitalization
U.N. Chief Condemns Deadly Saudi – Led Coalition Strike In Yemen
PARIS, France – United Nations Secretary – General Antonio Guterres condemned air strikes by a Saudi – led coalition in Yemen on Friday that reportedly killed at least 60 people in detention center in the Houthi – held Saada province. A Reuters witness said several people, including African migrants, died in the attack. Guterres’ spokesman, … More U.N. Chief Condemns Deadly Saudi – Led Coalition Strike In Yemen
U.S Calls For De – Escalation Of Saudi – Houthi Conflict In Yemen
WASHINGTON – There needs to be a de – escalation in the conflict between a Saudi – led military coalition and the Iran – aligned Houthi group in Yemen, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday following air strikes that killed scores of people. ‘The escalation in fighting only exacerbates a dire humanitarian … More U.S Calls For De – Escalation Of Saudi – Houthi Conflict In Yemen
U.S. Commits To Helping Saudi Arabia, Gulf Partners Defend Against Threats From Yemen
The U.S. reiterated its commitment to helping Saudi Arabia and its Gulf partners defend themselves against threats from Yemen and other places in the region, the State Department said after a call between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Prince Faisal bin Farhan. ‘Secretary Blinken reiterated the U.S. commitment to help Gulf partners improve their … More U.S. Commits To Helping Saudi Arabia, Gulf Partners Defend Against Threats From Yemen
Lebanese Museum Returns Artefacts From Syria’s Ancient City Of Palmyra
BEIRUT – Five Roman artefacts from the ancient city of Palmyra, a site damaged during Syria’s decade – long conflict, were returned to Damascus on Thursday by a private Lebanese museum where they had been on display since 2018. The limestone statues and carved funerary stones dating from the Roman second and third centuries AD … More Lebanese Museum Returns Artefacts From Syria’s Ancient City Of Palmyra
Top Diplomats For U.S., Russia Meet In Geneva On Soaring Ukraine Tensions
GENEVA – The top diplomats of Russia and the United States were to meet in Switzerland on Friday to discuss soaring tensions over Ukraine after a flurry of meetings between officials on both sides in the last week produced no breakthroughs. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Geneva for talks with Russian Foreign … More Top Diplomats For U.S., Russia Meet In Geneva On Soaring Ukraine Tensions
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Meets Russian Special Envoy For Syrian Settlement
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has received Russia special envoy for Syrian settlement Alexander Lavrentiv, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Thursday. The two reviewed the latest developments in Syria, as well bilateral relations between the two countries, according to SPA. ‘The Russian envoy conveyed the greetings … More Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Meets Russian Special Envoy For Syrian Settlement
No Vaccine, No French Open For Djokovic As Rules Righten
PARIS, France – Novak Djokovic risks being frozen out of tennis as he chases a record 21st Grand Slam title, with rules on travellers who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 tightening in the third year of the pandemic and some tournaments reconsidering exemption. The Serbian, who has not been vaccinated, was deported from Australia on Sunday … More No Vaccine, No French Open For Djokovic As Rules Righten
ARABIA 5AM NEWS 