Aviation

SpiceJet staffer tests positive for coronavirus

Updated : March 30, 2020 06:09 AM IST

The unnamed crew member didn’t operate any international flight in March. His last domestic flight was from Chennai to Delhi on March 21.

He has gone in self quarantine since the day of the flight.

A SpiceJet crew member has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in self quarantine, the airline said on Sunday.

The unnamed crew member didn’t operate any international flight in March. His last domestic flight was from Chennai to Delhi on March 21. He has gone in self quarantine since the day of the flight.

“One of our colleagues, a First Officer with SpiceJet, has tested positive for COVID-19. The test report came on March 28,” a SpiceJet spokesperson said.

“He did not operate any international flight in March 2020. The last domestic flight that he operated was on March 21 from Chennai to Delhi and since then he had quarantined himself at home.”

“As a precautionary measure, all crew and staff who had been in direct contact with him have been asked to self-quarantine by staying at home for the next 14 days.”

The domestic carrier added that it is following the World Health Organisation and the Union government’s guidelines regarding the coronavirus pandemic.

“We have been diligently following the guidelines issued by the WHO and the Government of India. All our aircraft are being disinfected thoroughly since the end of January and the disinfectants used are as per the WHO standards.”

All flights in India have been cancelled until April 14 as the country observes a 21-day lockdown in a bid to counter the spread of coronavirus. The ban came into effect on the midnight on March 24 and was initially meant to last until March 31.

The ban was extended until April 14 on Friday.

The number of positive coronavirus cases in India is edging closer to 1,000. COVID-19 has claimed 25 deaths in the country so far. Globally, the number of fatalities has crossed 30,000, with Italy accounting for about a third of the deaths so far.