According to a flight attendant union, Hawaiian Airlines is not allowing its flight crews to wear face masks amid worldwide concern surrounding the coronavirus.
“Hawaiian must allow and provide masks and gloves to flight attendants during this outbreak, at the very least on flights to and from Asia," Taylor Garland, spokesperson for the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents flight attendants from Hawaiian and more than a dozen other airlines, told USA TODAY. "Starting Friday, the company said they are adding 'surgical masks' to aircrafts beginning with international flights but they are still refusing to allow Flight Attendants to wear masks. This is unacceptable," she adds. The complaint comes ahead of a planned meet-up to "fight for a fair contract" at Hawaiian Airlines corporate offices on Tuesday, according to the union on Twitter.
Hawaiian Airlines is "closely monitoring" developments surrounding the virus and following CDC guidance, including how important routine hand-washing is as a preventative measure, Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson Alex da Silva told USA TODAY.
As of Monday, coronavirus had killed 362 people. There are 17,308 cases in mainland China with another 183 spread across 27 countries. There are now 11 confirmed cases in the United States.
"The CDC only recommends the use of masks when assisting a passenger who may be showing symptoms of being ill," da Silva said. "We always carry masks and gloves onboard our aircraft as part of our standard medical kits, which are reserved for use when warranted."
What is the risk of contracting the virus on a plane in the first place? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, transmission happens via droplets from coughing or sneezing or direct contact. "Air on airplanes is filtered through HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters which should trap any droplets," writes USA TODAY'S Ask the Captain pilot columnist John Cox. "Another factor that works in your favor is that the fact that the air on planes is extremely dry, which is not conducive to the virus."
He adds: "While the CDC does not discourage healthy people from wearing surgical masks as a precaution, the agency is only recommending their use for patients thought to have the virus and the cabin crew and medical professionals who interact with them."
The use of face masks is common in China, to protect against both germs and pollution. But when Chinese immigrants wear them in the U.S., it often conflicts with guidance from officials, who warn that they offer minimal protection and could lull wearers into a false sense of security. It can also draw suspicious gazes from passersby.
Delta, American and United canceled all mainland China flights due to the outbreak. Prior to canceling flights, American had planned to let flight attendants wear masks on Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai flights. The policy shift came after the union representing American flight attendants and those of other airlines put pressure on the airline industry.
Contributing: Jayme Deerwester and Chelsey Cox, USA TODAY; Anna Almendrala, Kaiser Health News
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