Coronavirus: six passengers test positive after taking Emirates flight to Australia
The travellers, aged between 40 and 64, boarded the flight from Dubai on July 1
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July 5, 2020
Updated: July 6, 2020
Latest: UAE travel advice - airline flights and testing for residents and tourists explained
Six passengers who travelled on an Emirates airlines flight to Western Australia have tested positive for Covid-19.
Officials said the four women and two men boarded flight EK420 bound for Perth on July 1, and were confirmed to have the virus following testing two days after landing.
Health authorities in Australia said the six people had been quarantined in a hotel, along with an undisclosed number of passengers on the same flight.
It is not yet clear where the six who tested positive contracted the virus, or if testing took place before they left Dubai.
Did you know that all Emirates’ aircraft are fitted with advanced HEPA cabin air filters which are proven to filter out 99.97% of viruses on board? Learn more about Emirates’ health and safety measures: https://t.co/uKpiwGZmlO #FlySaferWithEmirates pic.twitter.com/FysRKIrgw6
— Emirates Airline (@emirates) July 4, 2020
People known to have interacted with the six confirmed cases on the flight, or who were seated in nearby rows, were advised to self-quarantine at home for 14 days.
All other passengers on board were told to closely monitor their health for two weeks and seek immediate medical attention if they experienced any symptoms.
Coronavirus outbreak
"The six new cases, four women and two men aged between 40-64, were all passengers on a flight from Dubai which arrived in Perth on 1 July," a statement from the Department of Health in the state of Western Australia said.
"[They] returned positive test results following WA Health screening conducted on day two after their arrival."
An Emirates airline representative referred all questions to Australian health authorities.
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, airlines around the world have introduced a number of safety measures to better protect passengers and crew.
Travellers entering Emirates Terminal 3 in Dubai are required to wear face masks at all times and all check-in counters are fitted with special protective shields.
On the flights themselves, Emirates' aircraft are equipped with air filters which are known to filter out 99.9 per cent of viruses.
A complimentary hygiene kit containing gloves, a face mask, antibacterial wipes and hand sanitiser are also handed out to all those on board. The flight between Dubai and Perth takes approximately 11 hours.
Updated: July 6, 2020 07:07 PM
