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SINGAPORE – Singapore Airlines (SIA) cabin crew members will be required to undergo stricter Covid-19 control measures effective immediately following news that a Singapore Airlines (SIA) cabin crew member and an SIA pilot they tested positive for the coronavirus.
Announcing this on Wednesday night (December 30), the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said it was tightening measures to ensure the safety and well-being of aircrew and safeguarding public health in Singapore.
“Aircrews face considerable risks in the performance of their duties. They do so because it is essential for Singapore to maintain air connectivity. Many essential supplies, such as vaccines, can only be shipped by air. Singaporeans abroad and others essential travelers must be able to travel to and from Singapore, “CAAS said in a statement.
The first case, a member of the cabin crew, tested positive on December 27. He had last flown to New York on SQ24 on December 12 and returned to Singapore on December 16 aboard SQ23.
He was asymptomatic at the time and was tested on December 23 and 25 under the test protocol for aircrew of Singapore carriers when they return from abroad. Both tests were inconclusive, but an additional test on December 27 came back positive.
CAAS said its preliminary investigation showed the man had adhered to mandatory measures during the flight and layover, which include wearing a mask, minimizing contact with passengers and locals, and staying in his hotel room.
During the layover in New York, he interacted with the hotel’s immigration officer and registration staff and collected his food from a hotel staff who delivered it to his room.
All of the crew members and the 16 passengers who were sitting in the cabin section of the plane served by him tested negative.
The second case, a pilot, tested positive on December 29. He had last flown to London on SQ322 on December 19 and returned to Singapore on December 22.
He was tested on December 23 and received a negative result on December 25. But on December 26, he developed a fever and went to a clinic for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on December 27, which tested positive on December 29.
CAAS said its preliminary investigation showed that the pilot had adhered to the same mandatory measures in flight and stopover as in the first case. He also had no contact with the passengers on board the flight.
During the layover in London, he interacted with the immigration officer and hotel registration staff and also collected his food from a hotel staff who delivered it to his room.
CAAS said that after consulting with the Health Ministry, it will now require the aircrew to stop over to further minimize their contact with the local population.
For example, food delivered through room service should be left out of the room at the door rather than delivered.
Those staying in high-risk destinations will need to undergo PCR testing upon arrival and on the third and seventh days after their return to Singapore.
Crew members will need to isolate themselves until they receive a negative result from their 7th day PCR test.
In addition, crew traveling to and from South Africa will be required to put on full personal protective equipment (PPE), including N95 masks, face masks, gowns and protective gloves.
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