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SINGAPORE (The Straits Times / ANN): All Singapore Airlines (SIA) cabin crew members working on flights from London will now have to wear N95 masks and protective coveralls amid mounting concerns about the new strain of the virus Covid-19 in the city.
They will also need to undergo Covid-19 swab testing after their return. They will not be allowed to resume work on other flights until they obtain a negative result, in line with the usual practice when flying to areas with higher risk of Covid-19 infections.
SIA currently operates two daily direct flights from London Heathrow Airport on most days. The flights last approximately 13 hours.
Additional requirements for protective gear for flights from London went into effect on Wednesday (December 23), the SIA said in response to inquiries on Thursday.
Before this, the cabin crew had already been wearing surgical goggles, gloves, and masks for all flights.
Reports emerged last week of a new strain of the coronavirus that is 70 percent more infectious.
On Tuesday, Singapore joined more than 40 other countries in tightening restrictions on travelers arriving from the UK.
The Health Ministry had said that all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with a history of travel to Britain in the past 14 days will not be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore.
Returning Singaporeans and permanent residents will be required to be tested upon arrival and again towards the end of their 14-day home stay notification period in specialized facilities.
SIA also said Thursday that it already has a number of precautions in place to protect its crew and reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission.
For long-haul flights in which the crew will have to stay in the destination country, SIA has rented a dedicated bus for the crew to be transported to and from hotels, which are located far from city centers.
“All crew are required to stay in their hotel rooms during the stopover period and must use devices that track their location to ensure they comply with this regulation,” SIA said.
Crew members should also take their temperatures regularly and monitor their health closely during their tour of duty.
To protect the crew and other passengers on flights, if someone, a passenger or a crew member, reported that they were feeling unwell, the person would be transferred to a dedicated quarantine area inside the plane, SIA added.
The sick person would be cared for by a cabin crew dressed in full personal protective equipment and would be checked by the medical authorities upon landing the plane.
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