Whole Flight Told To Self-Isolate After Seven Test Positive For Coronavirus

Every passenger who was on bard a recent TUI flight has been told to self-isolate after seven people tested positive for coronavirus.

Public Health Wales has issued a warning advising everyone who was on the flight from Zante to Cardiff to stay home and get a test.

The health body said the infections originated in three different groups that were on board the TUI flight 6215, which landed in Wales on 25 August.

Speaking about the incident, Dr Giri Shankar, incident director for the outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said passengers who were on the flight will be contacted.

He said: "Cardiff and Vale Test Trace Protect and Public Health Wales have identified at least seven confirmed cases of Covid-19 from three different parties who were infectious on on TUI flight 6215 from Zante to Cardiff on 25 August.

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"As a result, we are advising that all passengers on this flight are considered close contacts and must self-isolate.

"These passengers will be contacted shortly but, meanwhile, they must self-isolate at home as they may become infectious even without developing symptoms.

"Anyone with symptoms should book a test without delay."

Dr Shankar said initial investigations had "indicated that a lack of social distancing, in particular by a minority of the 20- to 30-year age group, has resulted in the spread of the virus to other groups of people".

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He went on: "I would make a direct appeal to young people to remember that - even if they feel that they would not be badly affected by Covid-19 if they were to test positive for it - if they were to pass it on to older or more vulnerable family members, friends or colleagues it could be extremely serious, even fatal."

The health expert urged people to take the proper precautions when travelling and to make sure they are keeping a safe distance from others at all times.

He added: "It remains the responsibility of everyone to help prevent the spread of this virus - that is by self-isolating when asked to do so, staying two metres away from others, and by washing hands regularly.

"Particularly over this bank holiday weekend, we are also issuing a reminder to everyone of the importance of social distancing to keep everyone in Wales safe."

Earlier this month, a coronavirus outbreak in the West Midlands saw 19 DPD staff test positive for the virus.

Topics: Science, Coronavirus, Health

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

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