Ogle Airport in full compliance for commercial operations

— prepares to welcome CAL on Monday

In light of reports that Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) will begin operating out of the Eugene F Correia International Airport (EFCIA), Ogle for the first time on Monday, October 19, the facility said that it was fully prepared and in compliance with all the guidelines outlined in order to facilitate commercial flights.
On Wednesday, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill hinted that preparations were being made to facilitate CAL’s operation. The Airport has been facilitating repatriation flights from Guyana to Barbados, but on Monday, it will welcome its first commercial flight.
EFCIA Operations Manager Phillip Lynch told sections of the media that all the protocols were in place to meet COVID-19 guidelines. In fact, he stated that two booths would be set up to collect COVID-19 PCR test samples.
However, a release issued by the Airport stated that in collaboration with Eureka Medical Laboratory, it has implemented arrangements to carry out the sampling for the PCR COVID-19 tests for arriving passengers.
“At a meeting, …. the required arrangements and facilities [ in relation to the COVID-19 protocols and regulations established by the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority] were reviewed and are in compliance with these regulations,” the statement from the Airport noted.
On Monday, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) reopened to commercial flights weeks after Government’s decision to allow operations.
light of this move, the Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony announced that the important aspect of allowing incoming passengers was a negative PCR test, which must be proven by persons entering the country. This type of test is separated into two categories and can be done either within 72 hours or seven days of the flight.
“Before you can even get that flight, you have to go to the lab at the place of origin, get a PCR test done. That test has to be submitted to the authorities here in Guyana. We will then validate the test, that it’s an actual PCR test and we will pass an instruction on to the airline so that they can book the flight,” the Minister informed.
With regard to the seven-day window, travellers will be asked to pay for a second test at the Airport. If someone tests positive during their second PCR test, they will be picked up by the Health Ministry’s specialised COVID-19 team.
In addition, upon boarding an aircraft, passengers must follow the necessary guidelines with regard to protective gear. Screening will be done at the airport through temperature checks and electronic recording of data, among other measures.
Dr Anthony insisted, “When you board the plane, you are required to travel with a mask on so that just perchance someone is infected, you’re protected within this enclosed space. When you arrive in Guyana, we have persons who are at port health and those are Ministry of Health staff. They would screen you.”
Port health officers are responsible for interviewing incoming passengers, specifically to record their medical data and existing conditions. This process will not be long.
The Minister said it was expected that passengers will be negative, but nevertheless, all measures have been put in place to cater for a positive case:
“We have designed an electronic system, so once you come in, they would already have the name of the passenger and a number of details…We’re expecting that the majority of people will be negative, so this is just putting all the measures in place in case we have a positive.”