Airline crew to undergo extra recurrent PCR exams and self-isolate just after 2 SIA crew associates down with Covid-19
CAAS in session with MOH, will further more tighten the measures for air crew of Singapore carriers with fast result. ST Photograph: JASON QUAH
By Timothy Goh

The Straits Occasions/ANN
SINGAPORE – Crew associates of Singapore carriers will have to go through stricter Covid-19 control steps with instant effect following the information of a Singapore Airways (SIA) cabin crew member and an SIA pilot screening beneficial for the coronavirus.
Saying this on Wednesday night time (Dec 30), the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) stated it was tightening measures to assure the security and effectively-becoming of air crew and to safeguard general public overall health in Singapore.


“Air crew deal with considerable dangers in the system of their responsibilities. They do so due to the fact it is important for Singapore to manage air connectivity. Numerous vital provides, these types of as vaccines, can only be delivered by air. Singaporeans abroad and other crucial travellers have to have to be in a position to journey to and from Singapore,” stated CAAS in a statement.


The initially case, a cabin crew member, analyzed positive on Dec 27. He experienced past flown to New York on SQ24 on Dec 12, and returned to Singapore on Dec 16 aboard SQ23.


He was asymptomatic at the time and was examined on Dec 23 and 25 underneath the testing protocol for Singapore carriers’ air crew when they return from overseas. Both of those assessments were being inconclusive but an further take a look at on Dec 27 returned beneficial.


CAAS claimed its preliminary investigation confirmed that the gentleman had adhered to the mandated in-flight and layover steps, which includes donning a mask, minimising speak to with passengers and locals, and keeping in his lodge room.


Through the layover in New York, he interacted with the immigration officer and resort check-in staff members and collected his meal from a hotel workers who shipped it to his area.


All crew members and 16 travellers who were seated in the part of the aircraft cabin served by him have examined damaging.


The 2nd circumstance, a pilot, tested optimistic on Dec 29. He had final flown to London on SQ322 on Dec 19 and returned to Singapore on Dec 22.


He was tested on Dec 23 and been given a damaging consequence on Dec 25. But on Dec 26, he made a fever and went to a clinic for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) examination on Dec 27, which returned positive on Dec 29.


CAAS claimed its preliminary investigation showed that the pilot experienced adhered to the very same mandated in-flight and layover measures as the initially circumstance. He also experienced no get hold of with passengers on board the flight.


Throughout the layover in London, he interacted with the immigration officer and lodge test-in personnel and also gathered his food from a lodge team who delivered it to his room.


CAAS stated that soon after consulting with the Ministry of Health, it will now require air crew on layover to further minimise their contact with locals.


For example, foods sent via place provider really should be remaining exterior the space at the doorway alternatively of getting handed above.


Those people who lay in excess of in high-possibility destinations will be essential to undergo a PCR assessments on arrival and on the 3rd and seventh day adhering to their return to Singapore.


Crew associates will be required to self-isolate until they receive a damaging outcome from their seventh-day PCR examination.


In addition, crew travelling to and from South Africa will have to don entire particular protecting gear (PPE), which include N95 masks, facial area shields, protective robes and gloves.