Nearly 2,000 Air India employees have tested positive for Covid
One-sixth of all Air India staff have contracted Covid-19, according to Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
It has led to 19 Covid-related deaths, he said, which were all ground staff.
No flight crew members have died.
That amounts to nearly 2,000 AI employees based on data up until the beginning on February.
Nearly 60 of these were hospitalised, Puri told Parliament.
Although there have been well documented mishaps over false positive tests, Air India has robust testing protocols in place, Puri said.
"The Covid-19 test for crew is undertaken as per Standard Operating Procedure issued by the medical department of Air India, which is based on advisory guidelines issued by the government from time to time".
India’s Health Ministry is considering a proposal to have front-line airline staff prioritised for early Covid vaccinations.
Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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