TRAVEL: Global Pandemic

Photograph by Anonymous
Air China Flight Arriving from JFK, Beijing Capital Airport, June 9, 2009

Still reeling from the 2003 SARS outbreak, Chinese health officials (above) from the Beijing Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau in full protective clothing check passengers' temperature, passports and health declaration forms before allowing passengers to leave the plane.

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BEIJING: After flying 12 hours from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport to Beijing Capital Airport on an Air China Flight, passengers were required to remain seated in the plane for an additional hour to be individually checked for high temperature by Chinese health officials of the Beijing Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau in order to ensure none showed signs of the H1N1 virus. Before being allowed to leave the plane each passenger was also questioned on the state of their health and then given health declaration forms to fill out. Cards declaring they are free of symptoms were given to hold onto their person for a period of two weeks to establish their good health.