About 50 Qantas and Jetstar staff, including pilots and cabin crew, have tested positive for coronavirus, the airline group confirmed.
Key points:
- The cases include eight pilots and about 19 cabin crew
- It comes after a coronavirus cluster was identified among Adelaide Airport baggage handlers
- The cluster has grown, with a security worker who carries out public duties testing positive
The company's medical officer Russell Brown yesterday told staff that, in addition to previously announced cases of baggage handlers, the airlines' numbers included eight pilots and 19 cabin crew.
"Most of those were from overseas, but they were taking the precautions," Dr Brown said via a webinar.
"They are wearing masks when flying and being careful, and we're still seeing these cases.
"When you're dealing with a community that has more spread, the risk goes up, and we have to start thinking about what's going on here.
It is understood the cases have been distributed throughout the entire Qantas Group — which also includes Jetstar.
In a statement, Qantas medical director Ian Hosegood said there was no evidence passengers had caught the virus from infected staff — but could not rule that out
"In most of these cases, the employees have contracted the coronavirus while overseas including staff who were on holidays," Dr Hosegood said.