Two British Airways baggage handlers based at Heathrow have tested positive for Covid-19.
The airline confirmed the two cases of Covid-19 among its staff members in a statement.
A spokesman for the airline said: “Public Health England has confirmed that two members of our staff have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.
“The colleagues have been isolated and are recovering at home.”
Baggage handlers work in teams and are responsible for loading, unloading and transporting luggage at airports, and do not generally have any interaction with passengers.
A statement from Heathrow said: “The welfare of our passengers and colleagues is our top priority. A dedicated Public Health England team is operating at Heathrow to respond to any incidents at the airport, and we are working closely with them to ensure our colleagues are following their latest guidance in its entirety to protect themselves and our passengers. In line with Public Health England’s advice, we have enhanced thorough cleaning processes, increased the availability and provision of hand sanitisers for our colleagues and continue to advise anyone working or travelling through the airport to follow the Government’s advice to maintain good hand hygiene.”
British Airways has offered unpaid leave to their employees amid a drop in passenger demand due to the coronavirus outbreak.
They are one of a number of airlines to do so.
It has cancelled hundreds of flights on routes to New York as well as short-haul destinations across Europe.
“We continue to closely monitor the situation, and as a precaution we are taking steps to control the costs in our business,” the airline said in a statement.
