In an Interview with UN News, Dr. Liu Fang, Secretary General of ICAO, indicated that health and safety of the travelling public must be of paramount priority of international civil aviation. In the meantime, effective responses to novel coronavirus outbreak should be based on facts instead of fear.

Dr. Liu said that the international community has successfully prevailed over public health emergencies of international concern including H1N1 flu, SARS and Ebola among others. Based on the current information, there is no need to adopt measures other than the past ones to contain the spread of novel coronavirus. ICAO encourages all countries and airlines to adopt appropriate and pertinent measures based on the risks assessment of WHO and other medical experts.

Dr. Liu pointed out that, as repeatedly emphasized by Director General of WHO, excessive measures will only serve to instill fear, which is detrimental to public health. She said that misinformation surrounding contagious disease outbreaks, often led general public and some industry leaders to over-react. Based on above reasons, she and UN Secretary General, and WHO Director General worked together and emphasized effective responses to novel coronavirus outbreak should be based on facts instead of fear.

Joint Actions

Dr. Liu emphasized that in order to timely and effectively respond to the epidemic, ICAO and WHO, US CDC, governments of many countries, aviation safety and industry leaders maintained closed communication and coordination and took joint actions. ICAO issues and coordinates information through its Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA).

She noted that WHO is the leading agency in the UN system addressing epidemics like the current one. ICAO is focused on providing its and other partners’ recommendations for its member states, other international organizations and industrial associations

Health and Safety of Travelling Public as a Priority

Dr. Liu said that the fundamental objective of ICAO is to facilitate and enhance connectivity among nations. While in the event of international public health emergencies, all parties are aware that the health and safety of travelling public represents the priority.

Dr. Liu pointed out that over the past decades, ICAO worked closely with its member states, and has developed an effective regulatory system on international public health emergencies through the implementation of Chicago Convention and its annexes relating to infectious diseases. The aviation industry has rich experience in responding to epidemics. People can see that airlines and airports at the frontline of epidemic response are issuing notifications continuously and adopting best practices in a timely manner to provide support for the well-being of passengers.

She indicated that the entire aviation industry including aircraft manufacturers, airlines and airports has adopted robust actions in an effort to minimize the risks for air passengers. For example, thanks to the advanced filtering system on board aircraft and measures of enhanced ventilation in the cabin adopted by airlines, the air quality of the aircraft cabin is maintained at a high level. We can see airports are adopting various passenger screening measures to keep potential risks off the aircraft.

Maintaining Close Communication with Member States and Providing Professional Guidance

Dr. Liu underscored that the international community must unite together and make joint efforts so as to effectively respond to this public health emergency. Considering the actual capacity in response of public health departments of most of the developing countries, international cooperation is crucial.

She noted that, ICAO through its CAPSCA, has disseminated information to its member states and other organizations in January, participated in the meeting of WHO Emergency Committee, and shared updates with relevant parties. After the outbreak of the disease, ICAO issued two bulletins to all member states, provided advisories on relevant issues of public health and international civil aviation, strongly urged all states to follow ICAO SARPs and prevent the spread of disease in aircraft by disinfection and control of virus. In the meantime, ICAO also worked and coordinated with airlines’ association and airports’ association in developing travel guidance for the public.

Dr. Liu stated that ICAO will soon send a state letter to civil aviation authorities of all member states urging all states to honor the obligations of developing state aviation plans for the outbreak of epidemic as required in ICAO SARPs, and effectively reinforce national facilitation committee during epidemic outbreak through ubiquitous definition of functions of public health authority and civil aviation authority. She noted that ICAO will follow closely the development of epidemic, continue to deliver against its objectives, and constantly identify best practices in order to provide strategies and recommendations for the adoption of coordinated actions.