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Phoenix Sky Harbor issues response to "coronavirus"

Sky Harbor Airport
Posted at 12:35 PM, Jan 22, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-26 15:49:40-05

PHOENIX — Despite concerns about coronavirus spreading worldwide,officials at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport have not called for specific changes to the airport's standard health and safety protocols.

Coronavirus, which causes respiratory illnesses, including pneumonia, has now infected 300 people around the world and killed six people in five countries. Most of those cases occurred in China and other eastern Asian countries, according to a report by ABC News.

U.S. officials confirm a man in Washington state was infected with the virus after traveling to China.

Sky Harbor says if a patient with symptoms of the coronavirus arrives in Phoenix, health and safety protocols would go into effect beginning with the Phoenix Fire Department providing the initial response. The fire department would then contact public health officials.

Officials remind the public that Sky Harbor has 24-hour cleaning and sanitation airport-wide, and provides hand sanitizer throughout the terminals.

Officials are in close contact with state and federal health officials and will follow their direction should further action be needed.