Coronavirus: cases on Tui’s flight from Zante to Cardiff

All passengers traveling on a flight to Wales from a Greek island were told to isolate themselves after some on board tested positive for coronavirus.

Health officials say seven people from three different parties on Tui’s flight 6215 from Zante to Cardiff on Tuesday tested positive for Covid-19.

Public Health Wales (PHW) is communicating with all 193 passengers and crew on board.

It comes when a group of Plymouth people tested positive for the virus after returning from Zante on Monday.

“Cardiff and Vale test, trace, protect and Public Health Wales have identified at least seven confirmed cases of Covid-19 from three different parties that were infectious on the Tui 6215 flight from Zante to Cardiff on August 25,” said Giri Shankar of PHW.

“As a result, we are reporting that all passengers on this flight are considered close contacts and should isolate themselves.”

“These passengers will be contacted shortly, but in the meantime, they must self-isolate at home, as they can become infectious, even without developing symptoms.”

Dr Shankar, PHW’s Covid-19 Incident Director, said any of the 187 passengers and six crew members aboard the three-and-a-half-hour flight from Zakynthos to Cardiff Airport on Tuesday showing symptoms “should book a test Without delay”.

Stephanie Whitfield, from Cardiff, who was on the flight with her partner, told the BBC she was not surprised.

She said that she and her husband “decided to isolate themselves for two weeks on the flight,” even before learning of the positive cases.

“This flight was a debacle. The guy next to me had his mask around his neck. Not only did the airline not stop him, but they gave him a free drink when he said he knew a member of the crew.

“A lot of people took off their masks and wandered the hallways to talk to each other.

“As soon as the flight landed, a lot of people immediately took off their masks. The flight was full of selfish ‘covidiots’ and an inept crew who didn’t care.”

Stephanie said that she and her husband had sent in for a test and would return it as soon as possible.

“We have some symptoms, but we hope it is a cold. We have had a little cough, sore throat, headache.

“I am angrier than anything.”

1,715 new coronavirus cases, and one death, were reported in the UK on Sunday, the highest number since June 4.

While no new coronavirus deaths were reported in Wales on Sunday, PHW has confirmed 56 cases.

The seven cases on board the Tui flight are included in the 12 new cases reported in the area of ​​the Board of Health of the University of Cardiff and Vale.

• Can I go on vacation to Turkey or Greece?
• You finally made it abroad, but was it worth it?

Tui said that all passengers complied with Covid protocols “for the duration of their flight,” including wearing face masks.

The travel operator added that its planes have “a state-of-the-art standard hospital air filtration system”, are thoroughly cleaned after each flight and are “completely disinfected at least once every 24 hours,” according to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) guidelines.

“The safety and well-being of passengers and crew is our highest priority and we operate in accordance with EASA guidelines,” a Tui spokesperson said.

Cardiff Airport, which is owned by the Welsh government, said it was working closely with airlines to “facilitate passenger travel during this challenging time for the industry.”

“Tui is taking all necessary action after today’s report,” said Spencer Birns, acting chief executive officer of Cardiff Airport.

“Cardiff Airport is closely following the guidelines set by Public Health Wales, FCO and the UK government and has already taken a number of steps to ensure the safety of our team and customers, which is our number one priority.”