Another five employees of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), have been diagnosed with COVID-19 coronavirus on Saturday.
According to details, 22 PIA employees were tested for the COVID-19 in Quetta, five of them, including a woman tested positive for the novel virus.
All the affected personnel have been shifted to a quarantine facility, where they’ll receive required medical assistance while remaining in isolation in accordance with the social distancing measures.
“All infected staff members have been sent to quarantine,” said the PIA General Manager (Medical Services).
Prior to this, on May 3, four PIA employees including one pilot and three flight attendants tested positive for the novel virus after returning from a special flight from Melbourne to Lahore
It is to be noted that PIA has been conducting special flight operations to rescue thousands of Pakistani citizens that have been left stranded in various countries due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
PIA employees, especially flight and ground crew have been found most vulnerable to the novel virus due to the lack of essential protective equipment. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), on Friday, had provided PIA with US$ 100,000 worth of personal protective equipment (PPEs) including gowns, masks and goggles to assist the national carrier in continuing its special flight operations while ensuring the safety of its employees.
