COVID-19 spreads by respiratory droplets. These are breathed out particularly when the sick person coughs, sneezes or talks, and then they are either breathed indirectly by someone else or travel via the hands of the sick person to the hands of the healthy person, who then touches their face and breathes in the particles.

Less efficiently, the virus may be passed from hands to hands via recently touched surfaces. Most of the spread has been from close contact with someone unwell at the time. Close contact is typically defined as being within 1-2 meters for 15 minutes.

Based on the Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations from US CDC, “Transmission of novel coronavirus to persons from surfaces contaminated with the virus has not been documented. Transmission of coronavirus, in general, occurs much more commonly through respiratory droplets.

COVID-19 has become a pandemic and has affected all human beings. This protocol is implemented to contain/prevent the contagion affecting the workplace of Buddha Air because this pandemic is set to stay for a protracted period.

 
PROTOCOL FOR ALL STAFFS

 

1. If staffs feel sick and/or develop a common cold or flu-like symptoms such as sore throat, cough, breathlessness, high temperature, body ache, fatigue, loss of taste/smell, etc., must immediately isolate oneself, wear a mask, report to supervisor and seek immediate medical advice. Furthermore, staff are mandated to stay in self-isolation till completely cured. This will be strictly implemented by all supervisors and HODs through daily observations and meetings.
2. For staff who have had exposure with COVID-19 positive passenger, the staff shall be kept in quarantine for a period of 15 days, or until they have tested negative for COVID-19. Such staff shall be entitled to a salary without deducting leave balance.
3. Staff tested positive for COVID-19 shall be entitled to a salary without deducting leave balance.
4. As per WHO estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19 range from 1-14 days, most commonly around 5 days.
5. Head of Department, Head of Division, and Supervisors shall interact through meetings, one-to-one conversation and observations at least once a week to access the morale and motivation of each staff. 
6. As a contingency plan semi-permanent group shall be created in shift wise for uninterrupted operations in case of exposure with COVID-19 positive case.
7. Each staff must be provided guidance on the recognition of signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and measures to prevent transmission of Covid-19 such as hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, social distancing, environmental cleaning, waste disposal, when and how to use a mask, avoidance of contact with people presenting respiratory symptoms, avoid crowded places/events such as parties, restaurants, shopping malls, movie theaters, etc. and seeking medical advice early if signs and symptoms develop. 
8. Each staff must wear a mask properly while on duty and must change the mask on a daily basis. Reusable masks must be properly sanitized and disinfected by soaking in boiling water and washing with hot water and soap after each use. 
9. The company will supply disposable single-use surgical masks and face shields but it is each staff’s responsibility to obtain the proper one and use it. (additional materials to be provided by the company based on the scope of work is detailed in Appendix 8)
10. Mandatory check of temperature and sanitization of hands as demonstrated by W.H.O. will be done every time before entering Buddha Air premises and offices. The temperature gun used will be calibrated as per the manufacturer manual. Body temperature shall also be measured at the entrance of the airport terminal by a representative of health authorities.
11. Distancing between each staff and other personnel of the airport’s various agencies will not be less than 1 meter, however, it may be required to work together within an assigned group of staff in each shift to perform some specific operations/tasks in Aircraft Maintenance,  
12. Ground Handling etc., with taking required personnel precautions as mentioned in this protocol.
13. Minimize contact with other people while moving between the airport and ground transportation. 
14.  Avoid touching nose, mouth, and eyes with un-sanitized hands.
15. Wash or sanitize hands regularly and before and after touching the mouth, noses, eyes, etc.
16. All staff are recommended to either carry food from home, additionally, BHA TIA staff are advised to eat at Buddha Air’s canteen as other canteens may be contaminated.  Avoid sharing food and drinks with co-workers.
17. To reduce the risk of inadvertent transmission, minimize the use of the print-based medium for the purpose of dissemination of meeting minutes, memo, circular, report, etc. and use electronic means whenever possible.  
18. Avoid sharing office stationeries such as pens, pencils, erasers, tippex, markers, scale, notebooks, stapler, pins etc. Use the stationery allocated to you and requisite additional spares before personal stock runs out. 
19. Walkie talkie should be sanitized prior to use by individual staff.
20. Staff who conducts breathalyzer test should wear proper PPE such as mask, gloves, and glasses and maintain social distancing. The Breathalyzer should be sanitized and wiped dry before and after every use.
21. Refrain from taking/sharing tobacco or related products such as cigarettes, beetle-nut, chewing tobacco, vapes, e-cigarettes, lighters, matchbox et.al with colleagues.
22. Maintain daily duty logs and submit to HRD upon verification of HOD/supervisor.
23. Operations in the COVID-19 pandemic situation require controlled operations so this will slow down whole procedures (from passenger check-in, boarding, cabin preparation, disembarkation till disinfection of the aircraft). Considering the human factor issue, all crew members, ground staff, and aircraft disinfection staff should properly follow these guidelines to refrain themselves from being overloaded and stressed while performing their respective duties.
24. Everyone is encouraged to report any discrepancies in the workplace to one’s superior and Corporate Safety Department immediately and effective action shall be taken for the sake of the benefit of all.

This will create a secure and confident work environment amongst the staff. 
 

STAFF DEALING WITH CUSTOMERS 

1. A safe distance of at least 1 meter must be maintained with the customer.
2. Mandatory wearing of clean mask covering mouth and nose all the time.
3. Shall not come into physical contact with the customer. Special care shall be taken while handling overprinted tickets.
4. Sanitize hands after receiving documents and/or money regularly
5. There will be a glass barrier at all counters
6. Customers not wearing a proper face mask will not be entertained.
7. The concerned staff will report immediately to the supervisor any customer not adhering to this protocol, who will be dealt with firmly
8. Everyone is encouraged to report any discrepancies in the workplace to one’s superior and Corporate Safety Department immediately and effective action shall be taken for the sake of the benefit of all.

 

CARGO HANDLING 

1. A safe distance of at least 1 meter must be maintained with the customer.
2. Mandatory wearing of clean mask covering mouth and nose all the time.
3. Shall not come into physical contact with the customer. Special care shall be taken while handling over printed documents and receipts.
4. Sanitize hands after receiving documents and/or money regularly
5. There will be a glass barrier at all counters
6. All documents and cargo will be sprayed with disinfectant and will be informed to the owners in writing
7. Customers not wearing a proper face mask will not be entertained
8. During the time of the epidemic, until further notice, no carry policy for live animals.
9. The concerned staff will report immediately to the supervisor any customer not adhering to this protocol, who will be dealt with firmly
10. Everyone is encouraged to report any discrepancies in the workplace to one’s superior and Corporate Safety Department immediately and effective action shall be     taken for the sake of the benefit of all
     

PASSENGERS HANDLING AT THE AIRPORT 

1. Regular information through our different communication channels will be done to inform passengers to wear face masks and not to come to the airport, office premises, ticketing counters, cargo office and/or fly if they have a common cold and/or flu-like symptoms such as sore throat, cough, high temperature, body ache, fatigue, loss of taste/smell, etc.
2. Passengers with any kind of Covid-19 related ailments will not be allowed to fly till  further notice
3. Passengers will be informed to wear face mask continuously while at the airport premises as well as throughout the duration of the flight from before boarding until baggage collection, passengers failing to abide shall be off-loaded and handed over to airport security.
4. Passengers will not be allowed in the flight if BHA authorized personnel decides that the mask s/he is wearing is not up to the safety standard (masks must be clean and not moist/wet and must cover the mouth and nose properly, so that mucus, saliva and or nose discharge of the person do not come out.)
5. Contact information of all passengers must be recorded; those agents not doing so will be barred from selling BHA tickets.
6. Company will endeavor to provide disposable masks and face shields at the airport to the passengers
7. There will be marked area for passengers to cue one meter apart (stand in line) for check-in
8. The temperature of each passenger will be taken at the boarding gate 
9. Ground staff will be briefed to look for as well and interview passengers for Covid-19 symptoms other than temperature like sore throat, running nose, cough, breathlessness, body ache and fatigue, loss of taste/smell.
10. The check-in counter staff and other staff at the airport will be trained and there will be specially deputed staff before the check-in counter and departure to do this observation. 
11. Suspected passengers shall be handed over to the Epidemiology Disease Control Division (EDCD) Health Desk or Terminal Duty Office
12. All passengers must carry valid photo IDs while traveling which will be scanned and high-risk passengers shall be identified accordingly, who will be more thoroughly scrutinized.  
13. Counters will be closed 15 minutes before boarding and all passengers will be informed accordingly to report at the airport at least 1.5 hours before flight time.
14. Boarding will be commenced 30 minutes prior to departure time 
15. Passengers will be kept at Departure Lounge maintaining social distancing 
16. Pre-boarding procedures will be carried out maintaining social distancing, passengers will be provided with hand sanitizer. 
17. No-show will be strictly implemented and such passengers will not be adjusted in other flights
18. All passengers will be informed to use the lavatory at the airport waiting for the hall to relieve themselves prior to boarding as the aircraft lavatory will not be made available and any movement inside the aircraft will not be allowed.
19. Passengers from destinations deemed high risk will be scrutinized of tell-tale symptoms before boarding and temperatures shall be checked applying high caution.
20. Passengers will be boarded in the ramp bus one at a time maintaining social distancing and four at a time in the aircraft according to seat number from the front.
21. Passengers will be disembarked four at a time from the rear and boarded on the ramp one at a time bus maintaining social distancing.
22. Baggage will be moved along with passenger buses and distributed to passengers maintaining social distancing.
23. The concerned staff will report immediately to the supervisor any passenger not adhering to this protocol, who will be dealt firmly and immediately reported to the airport security
24. Passengers who fail to adhere to these guidelines and instructions will be termed disruptive and will be refused access to the aircraft cabin, or disembarked. If the events take place before aircraft doors are shut, such disruptive passengers shall be removed from airport premises by the competent public authorities according to national/local legislation. Furthermore, subject to national requirements, they may be subject to additional actions as determined by the local authorities at the departure airport. 
25. All international passengers shall be made to fill the International Traveller Public Health Declaration Appendix 3 whereas domestic passengers shall be made to fill the Declaration Form in 
26. Passengers for domestic flights shall be made to fill the Declaration Form. The declaration form will be kept as a record in the BHA office. PLC shall be collected by Cabin Crew and the same shall be handed over to Destination Airport Health Desk by the Ground Handling staff. 
27. Passengers for international flights shall be made to fill the Public Health Passenger Locator Form Appendix 6 for the information required by CAAN.
28. For smooth passenger transition and to avoid the unnecessary crowd at the terminal, the concerned ground staff and security staff shall vigilantly observe, guide, and assist passengers.
29. Everyone is encouraged to report any discrepancies in the workplace to one’s superior and Corporate Safety Department immediately and effective action shall be taken for the sake of the benefit of all.

 

Passengers’ role inside the aircraft

1. Passengers will wear the face mask continuously throughout the flight – before boarding to baggage collection.
2. Passengers will be informed to do as fewer movements and touching as possible while boarding and inside the aircraft and not use the toilet as far as possible but to go before boarding.
3. All passengers will be provided and made to sanitize their hands at the doors of the aircraft (before boarding).
4. Water will be made available upon request, which will be announced.
5. Passengers will only be boarded according to the seat numbers four at a time.
6. Passengers will be disembarked four at a time, the remaining passengers will be seated till their turn comes.
7. The concerned staff will report immediately to the PIC/supervisor any passenger not adhering to this protocol, who will be dealt with firmly.
8. Everyone is encouraged to report any discrepancies in the workplace to one’s superior and strict disciplinary action shall be taken for the sake of the benefit of all.

 

Cabin Crew

Cabin Crew should run the required checklist prior to the flight to verify the required items including additional items required to fulfill this guideline are onboard. (For example: Inspect and verify contents of the UPKs before each flight).

1.    There will be no in-flight catering and magazines. Water will be provided only upon demand.
2.    Cabin Crew must be aware of not coming in close contact or touch any passengers or their baggage, which will be pre-informed to the passengers.
3.    Restrict non-essential interaction with passengers as much as practical to reduce the risk of contamination from asymptomatic passengers.
4.    PA must be prepared to additionally inform passengers: 
•    not to remove their masks throughout the flight, not move unnecessarily,
•    self-report if feeling difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, dizziness, feeling feverish, etc., 
•    restrict movement in the cabin and refrain from using onboard lavatory to reduce risk to inadvertent transmission,
•    no in-flight catering and magazines. Water will be provided only upon demand,
•    process of disembarking – four passengers at a time from the rear,
•    inform the air travelers about relevant guidelines of the destination airport to be followed for a smooth journey.
5.    To enable easier identification of individuals who might be at greater risk of contamination should an onboard infection be identified, Cabin Crew In-Charge (CCIC) must clearly designate tasks and cabin areas of responsibility to other cabin crew in ATR aircraft. In B1900, the cabin crew must handle the situation very carefully following the guidelines.
6.    Notify PIC immediately of any suspected cases.
7.    Passengers who do not adhere to these guidelines and instructions in flight, the procedures relating to handling cases of unruly passengers will be applied. Further actions for endangering the flight safety and health security of the other passengers  and crew members may be taken by the local authorities at the destination airport in line with national requirements
8.     Cabin crew are required to sanitize personal PPE (apron and Face shield)
 

PA must be prepared to additionally inform passengers: 

•    not to remove their masks throughout the flight, not move unnecessarily,
•    self-report if feeling difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, dizziness, feeling feverish etc., 
•    restrict movement in the cabin and refrain from using onboard lavatory to reduce risk to inadvertent transmission,
•    no in-flight catering and magazines. Water will be provided only upon demand,
•    process of disembarking – four passengers at a time from the rear,
•    inform the air travelers about relevant guidelines of the destination airport to be followed for a smooth journey.

5.    To enable easier identification of individuals who might be at greater risk of contamination should an onboard infection be identified, Cabin Crew In-Charge (CCIC) must clearly designate tasks and cabin areas of responsibility to other cabin crew in ATR aircraft. In B1900, the cabin crew must handle the situation very carefully following the guidelines.

6.    Notify PIC immediately of any suspected cases.

7.    Passengers who do not adhere to these guidelines and instructions in flight, the procedures relating to handling cases of unruly passengers will be applied. Further, actions for endangering the flight safety and health security of the other passengers and crew members may be taken by the local authorities at the destination airport in line with national requirements.

8. Cabin crew are required to sanitize personal PPE (apron and Face shield) 

 

Handling a COVID-19 suspected case on board

1. Where any passenger on board, after take-off, shows COVID-19 symptoms, the following measures should be considered: 
2. Inform PIC as soon as possible and update the status in a timely manner.
3. Make use of protective equipment (single-use gloves and mask) from  Universal Precaution Kits or from the reserve, or provide a medical facemask for the symptomatic passenger (if their mask seems wet or soiled) in order to reduce the risk of spreading the potential of COVID-19 infection.
4. Keep interaction with the suspected passengers as brief as possible.
5. Keep the passenger in their seat and remove all the nearest passengers away from the suspected passenger as far as possible.
6. Turn off airflow ventilation of the sick passenger to reduce the risk of spreading virus/droplets from sick passengers.
7. Use a non-contact infrared thermometer (if available) to record the temperature of the suspected passenger.
8. Define and delimit a quarantine area, leaving, if possible, 2 rows of seats cleared in each direction around the passenger. Consider, if feasible, the use of the last 2 rows on the right-hand side as a quarantine area.
9. Taking into consideration all previous factors and the air circulation system of the aircraft, where possible, the suspected passenger should be seated in the last right window seat; 
10. According to the composition of the cabin crew, the Cabin Crew in Charge should provide instructions on how to handle the assistance of the quarantine area. 
11. In ATR aircraft, specific cabin crew members should be designated to provide necessary in-flight service for the quarantine area. This cabin crew member should be the one that already had contact with the suspected passenger. The designated crew member should make use of the PPE equipment in the UPK. The designated crew member should minimize close contacts (within 2 meters) with other crew members and avoid other unnecessary contacts with other passengers.
12. Where the suspected passenger is traveling accompanied, the companion should be also included in the area confined to the designated quarantine area even if he/she does not exhibit any symptoms. 
13. The isolated passenger should be transferred in accordance with the instruction of the local public health authorities after the flight has landed and other passengers have disembarked; 
14. Discarded masks should be placed in a distinct bin, sprayed or sprinkled till fully soaked with chlorine disinfectant before post-flight cleaning, and packed in a tightly knotted plastic bag for centralized disposal.

The Cabin crew member designated to look after the suspected passenger with exposure event, should:
 
a.    immediately inform Chief of Cabin Crew and Corporate Safety Department upon landing. 
b.    inform the transport department to arrange for separate transport back home
c.    take appropriate self-isolation measures pending the result of the passenger’s test. 
d.    If the passenger’s test is positive, consult with a private health care provider or company doctor and stay in quarantine for 14 days from the last contact with the confirmed positive passenger, unless otherwise specified by the local public health authorities. 
e.    If the passenger’s test is negative, may resume flying duties. 

 

When a Suspected passenger is identified before take-off and has been handed over to the airport medical facility, no direct contact longer than 15 minutes should have taken place between the respective suspected passenger and the crew members, thus no additional measures should be taken in regard to the management of the crew members unless otherwise advised by the local public health authorities.

In the case of International Flight, make sure to use the health part of the Aircraft General Declaration to register the health information on-board and submit it to the point of entry health authorities when required by a State’s representative.

 

Management of crew members following a post-flight confirmation of a positive COVID-19 passenger 

1.    Upon receipt of information from the health authorities regarding confirmation of     COVID-19 in passenger traveled from BHA flight, the concerned flight crew shall be informed immediately and put off duty for a duration of 14 days from the end of the respective flight.
2.    The concerned crew should be self-quaratined in the set period. 
3.    This should apply for the flights taking place within 5 days before the collection of the     test sample for asymptomatic persons or within 3 days prior to the onset of symptoms     for the     symptomatic passengers unless otherwise specified by the local public health     authorities
4.    For flights taking place outside this interval the risk of the passenger being contagious during the flight is considered low. 
Note: There is no documented evidence of transmission of the Coronavirus more than 48 hours prior to the onset of symptoms. Based on the existing medical articles describing different types of evolution, including that in some case the first symptoms may be so mild as to be overlooked by some patients, it is considered that an interval of
 
more than 72 hours prior to the onset of symptoms are considered as being safe in terms of infectivity. In similar reasoning, due to the possibility of mild symptoms which may be overlooked, in case a test is performed based only on epidemiological context without symptomatology being present at the moment of the test, a period of more than 5 days prior to the moment of the collection of the sample which is revealed as positive, is considered as being safe in terms of infectivity.

Management of suspected crew member on board 

If any crew member shows COVID-19 symptoms and has an epidemiological context (such as having been in recent contact with confirmed positive cases), he/she should be: 

1.    Quarantined on board (if possible). 
2.    Land as soon as practicable.
3.    Transferred in accordance with instructions of the local public health authorities after     the flight has landed and all passengers and crew members have been disembarked; 
4.    Be required to contact the local public health authorities as soon as practicable and     follow their instructions including being tested for SARS-CoV-2 as soon as practicable; 
5.    Put in quarantine or self-isolation in accordance with instructions of the local public health authority, pending the result of the test. 
6.    If the test result is positive then the quarantine will be extended until the crew member is considered fully recovered.
7.    If the test is negative, the crew member may resume flying duties pending recovery from the underlying pathology.  
8.    The other crew members that were in close contact (less than 2 meters for more than     15 minutes) with the suspected crew member within 3 days preceding the onset of symptoms should be placed in quarantine pending the result of the test of the suspected crew member. 
9.    If the result is positive, they will be placed in quarantine for 14 days from the moment of the last contact. If the test is negative, they can resume flight duties.