***Say Planes are ‘deep-cleaned once a month’ and only get a ‘quick wipe’ after most flights
British Airways cabin crew fear they are more at risk of catching coronavirus because planes were are not deep-cleaned after every flight.
In fact, jets are only deep-cleaned monthly with some just getting a ‘quick wipe’ before jetting off again.
On Friday, two baggage handlers at Terminal 5 of London’s Heathrow Airport tested positive for the killer infection raising fears that the virus – that has infected 164 people in Britain and killed two – could have passed onto passengers’ luggage, where it could survive for up to three days.
A BA crew member, who asked not to be named, said: ‘They’re given a basic clean by cleaners who use the same cloths to wipe down galleys and surfaces.
‘A plane comes from Hong Kong, it gets a quick wipe and then it goes straight to New York.
‘Cabin crew get a small bottle of hand sanitizer. If someone was to show symptoms there are masks, but you’re in a confined space at 40,000ft, so it won’t do much good.
‘Everybody has raised concerns. But you can’t do anything about it. You can’t refuse to do any flights.’
A BA spokesman said every aircraft was given a ‘regular clean’ after every short-haul flight and a thorough one each evening.
Long-haul flights get a thorough clean after every flight, including seats, seat pockets, tray tables, galleys, toilets, floors, the aircraft interior and surfaces generally.
Monthly deep-cleans of all aircraft return them to a ‘like new’ standard, and involve everything from ceilings to air vents.
Heathrow has introduced a strict hygiene regime since the outbreak of coronavirus in January and staff have been cleaning baggage carousels regularly.
A spokesman said baggage handlers working for all airlines had been given gloves, masks and hand sanitizers, as well as lessons in good hand hygiene.
PHE staff at the airport are also advising staff on how to prevent infection and monitoring inbound passengers for signs of symptoms.
Heathrow is still accepting arrivals from Milan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Travellers who return from these areas must self-quarantine if they develop symptoms.
On Thursday evening a woman in her 70s became the first person in the UK to die after being diagnosed with coronavirus while at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.
The woman – who had ‘underlying health conditions’ – tested positive for the killer infection on Wednesday before succumbing to the illness the following day.
And on Friday a grandfather in his early 80s died at Milton Keynes Hospital after he was admitted on March 3 with suspected pneumonia having recently returned from a cruise where he had visited several countries.
His family fear he could have passed on the infection after he was left ‘coughing excessively’ on a ward for six hours as patients warned hospital workers to check him for the deadly virus.
After health officials confirmed two British Airways baggage handlers were infected, one anxious traveller asked: ‘How many passengers have been infected?’
Heathrow is one of the busiest airports in the world and tens of thousands of travellers pass through the airport every day.
‘This is war’: Doctor leading search for coronavirus vaccine says it’s the most frightening disease he’s ever encountered as second British victim is confirmed and number of UK cases rises to 164
Coronavirus infection toll hits 100,000 as the World Health Organization’s chief warns ‘this is NOT a drill’ and urges countries to ‘pull out all the stops’ to contain the killer virus
Globally, the number of coronavirus cases has passed 100,000, including five new confirmed cases in Ireland, bringing the state’s total to 18. There have been 3,400 deaths worldwide
Of the 163 cases already confirmed in the UK, 147 are in England, 11 in Scotland, three in Northern Ireland and two in Wales. Leading scientists have repeatedly warned there are likely to be more cases.
-Daily Mail
