Some United Airlines flight attendants have reportedly been asked to keep working after being around colleagues who have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Three employees told Reuters that the attendants were asked to keep flying and monitor themselves for symptoms, sparking concerns about the airlines’ policy for COVID-19 exposure.
The outlet also found concerns about the airline’s quarantine and contract tracing protocols from a private online group for United flight attendants.
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The concerns come amid a surge in coronavirus cases across the country, with cases among airline workers also rising.
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) told Reuters that it saw 50 positive coronavirus tests a week among 25,000 active crew, up from 10 per week in the summer.
In a statement to The Hill, United said it adheres to guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for preventing COVID-19 spread and managing active cases.
“The health and safety of our employees and customers is our highest priority,” the statement said. “Which is why we have policies and procedures in place as part of a multi-layered approach to create a safer travel environment.”
United quarantines crew members that test positive wherever they are until they are cleared to return home. The airline then conducts contact tracing and quarantines crew members that meet the CDC’s criteria.
Those who do not meet the criteria are instructed to self-monitor for 14 days from the date of exposure.
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However, concerns about airline policies are not limited to United, with an AFA spokeswoman telling Reuters “we’ve received concerns about quarantine protocols from flight attendants across the industry from carriers we represent and where we’re organizing.”
The spokesperson added that some complaints have come from Delta Air Lines. The company told the outlet that it also follows the CDC and other health guidelines.
The CDC and FAA recommend crew members with known exposure not work until they meet the health agency’s guidelines to be released from quarantine.
The CDC does not recommend allowing asymptomatic crew members with known exposure to continue working because they can’t remove themselves if they develop symptoms during flight.