Shillong, June 30: European agencies, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), have officially retired the Covid-19 health and safety measures for aviation.
The Aviation Health Safety Protocol (AHSP) was issued by these agencies in May 2020 with the aim of establishing a coordinated approach to curb the spread of the virus, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The protocol sought to strike a balance between minimizing disruption to flight operations and ensuring the safety of the European population, according to the ECDC.
The decision to retire the protocol was made due to the declining and stable trends of Covid-19 in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) since March 2023.
On May 5, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that Covid-19 no longer constituted a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) but was now an established and ongoing health issue.
Nevertheless, the ECDC and EASA still encourage passengers, crew members, aviation stakeholders, and national competent authorities to maintain a focus on proper ventilation, hygiene practices, and respiratory etiquette.
