Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Attendant Current
Troubleshooting; Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related
Today during Aircraft X flight; I and the B [Flight Attendant] were notified by the A [Flight Attendant] that she flew a 3 day trip that ended yesterday with someone who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus yesterday after their trip. She said she came in an hour early to check in for her trip and notify base management; so that they would have time to pull and replace her. She was told that they couldn't do that; she has to fly until she's notified by the company and then pulled. The B called the Operations with me on speaker phone in between flights to notify them that she should have been pulled and we were not comfortable being confined in our workspace with her for another flight. We wanted to limit our exposure. He told us that there is a process and when it goes through that process then she would be called. We know that the A that she flew with yesterday had already been notified and had her schedule pulled. The company put us at risk by making us fly with her; knowing her exposure. They knew she had to be quarantined; but made her fly and now increased our risk of exposure and that of our passengers. She served ice water to passengers. On the second flight; the B and I did all service to minimize passenger exposure to the A. The Operations suggestion was that we could call in sick. Clearly; our management has not been given needed authority to pull someone from flying while waiting for this process to be followed. As a result; we were at higher risk today for exposure and this was completely unnecessary. Our policy states that we are not to fly when we know we have been exposed to someone who tested positive and she did the right thing by reporting that prior to flying but she was told to fly anyway. In fact; our EFB addresses this issue. She met that criteria and she should have not been required to come to work. She was supposed to stay home; but she was told to go ahead and work or she was given the option of calling in sick and being paid out of her sick leave. That's not an appropriate option. She wasn't sick and she should not be penalized for doing her job and flying with someone who tests positive on the same day that she flew with said person. She spoke with Supervisor. They were apparently following directions from headquarters that they are not allowed to pull her; even though they have been notified by her and the person who tested positive. They were not allowed to pull our A and as a result; our entire crew and all passengers were exposed to someone who should have been quarantined immediately. The company failed to protect me and in fact; knowingly put my health at risk. This is unacceptable. My life is important. The company has an obligation to protect me. I would also like to note that the FA who tested positive; tested on date and notified a Supervisor or Operations that she was being tested. I was informed that she was told to call the next day to advise them of her results. She got her results that same night. Why was she told to call the next day with her results? She should be told to call the Operations immediately with her results so that pulls could begin before we started our trips. There were reserves in ZZZ that could have worked that trip for our A and lessened our chances of exposure. She had literally been breathing in this virus for 3 days with this crew member and now you had us breathing in the same air from her and not knowing whether or not she had the virus or might be contagious; in a close up environment. I know that we are being told repeatedly about the air flow and filters and how safe it is. When we are on the ground boarding and deplaning; none of that occurs. There is no filter then. Also; the masks that we are wearing are not medical grade PPE; which also increases our risk.
Flight Attendant reported concerns with having to fly with a Flight Attendant that had been in contact with another Flight Attendant that had tested positive for COVID-19.