Travel Updates related to Coronavirus

March 3, 2020

Des Moines International Airport Actions

The Des Moines Airport Authority follows the guidance provided by public health officials at the federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Iowa Department of Public Health during any public health incident. To protect passengers and to minimize the spread of the virus the airport is:

• Increasing our use of disinfectant and cleaning in what we call “high touch” areas at the airport, like handrails, escalators, elevator buttons, restroom doors, etc.

• Making hand sanitizers available to passengers throughout the airport. • Posting personal hygiene educational signage in all bathrooms.

• Coordinating with our airline and tenant partners, passengers, and employees to closely monitor any change in the status of our region’s health.

Federal Airport Screening

The CDC has begun enhanced screening at 20 airports with quarantine stations; the Des Moines International Airport is not among the identified airports who need additional screening at this time.

How You can Stay Healthy

Public health officials recommend personal hygiene and frequent hand washing as the best way to prevent illness.

• Wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.

• Avoid contact with people who are sick and stay home when sick.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid non-essential travel to specified areas.

• Check-in with your airline if you have questions about your travel itinerary.

• While not protective against novel coronavirus, public health officials also recommend the influenza vaccine. It’s not too late to get an influenza vaccine, since flu season can last into spring.