Virgin Australia employee tests positive to coronavirus and is in isolation, at risk customers contacted

Virgin Australia customers may have been exposed to coronavirus after an international cabin crew member tested positive.

A Virgin Australia cabin crew member has tested positive to coronavirus after returning from overseas.

The airline said it was working with health authorities who may contact any guests considered at risk of contracting the virus.

The employee is a member of the airline’s international cabin crew but it is not known what recent flight or flights she has been on.

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“I can confirm that we have a cabin crew member who has been diagnosed with coronavirus,” Virgin Australia chief executive Paul Scurrah told reporters today as he announced international flight cuts in response to the coronavirus crisis.

“She recently came back from overseas and was feeling unwell and decided to self-report.”

He added the staff member was doing well.

“I spoke to her not long ago. She’s in good spirits and well,” he said.

Virgin Australia said the staff member had been put in isolation and was receiving medical care.

“Virgin Australia is are aware of concerns relating to a member of our international cabin crew who was confirmed to have COVID-19 coronavirus,” the airline said in a statement this afternoon.

Virgin Australia says one of its employees is in isolation and receiving medical care after testing positive to coronavirus. Picture: David Mariuz/AAP

“The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is our number one priority and we are working to determine any guest contact this crew member may have had in the course of duty.

“This information will be provided to relevant health authorities in order for them to make contact with those who may be affected.”

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Virgin Australia said it was in regular contact with all its staff to offer the latest information about the virus and proper hygiene practices and cleaning.

The diagnosis comes as Virgin Australia announced an innovative new cleaning chemical would be used on its planes, lounges and clubs to help protect passengers against the spread of germs.

The airline said the spray chemical, DuroPax – which has never been used in Australia before – created a barrier on surfaces that could last for 48 hours.

It is unclear what part of the business the Virgin Australia employee worked. Picture: David Mariuz/AAP

“In the current climate we know that aircraft cleanliness is of utmost importance for guests so we hope this new product will put travellers at ease,” Virgin Australia general manager product and customer experience Sarah Adam said.

Coronavirus has been a major source of pain for the aviation industry as airlines slash routes and face heavy losses due to government-issued travel bans and general anxiety around travel during the pandemic.

Qantas and Virgin Australia are among the carriers that have axed services to China and across Asia in response to weaker demand due to the coronavirus outbreak.

They have also slashed airfares in an attempt to woo back deterred travellers, such as Virgin Australia’s $250 business class sale, announced today.

Globally, airlines look set to lose about $44.7 billion in revenue this year as a result of the virus crisis, according to the International Air Transport Association, while analysts say the impact of the crisis on the industry will be bigger than the September 11 terror attacks.