The Ministry of Health is working to plant more thermal cameras in Velana International Airport (VIA) and southernmost Addu International Airport.

The ministry began operating thermal cameras at VIA as well as sea ports during the past week following the risk of the wide-spreading deadly coronavirus that comes from China after a cluster of pneumonia cases were reported from Wuhan City, Hubei Province.

Speaking to RaajjeMV, the ministry revealed that the installation work for the thermal cameras have begun and authorities are also working to find more thermal cameras.

The ministry announced plans to begin operating thermal cameras at all entry points of the country as soon as possible, during a press conference last week.

Highlighting that suspected individuals will be isolated to run further tests, Health Minister Abdulla Ameen stated that they are also following the protocols set by the World Health Organization (WHO) to curb a possible outbreak in the country, which is yet to begin administering vaccination for the virus.

Further, the ministry has since allocated Fonadhoo island in Kaafu atoll as a quarantine zone for suspected individuals.

It was revealed that the cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan was linked to a novel coronavirus, which consecutively resulted in over 2,000 cases and about 80 fatalities since the epidemic began.

Symptoms of the virus include fever, coughing and breathing difficulties and as it is a relatively new disease, most people have not been vaccinated for it thus far, revealed HPA.