Fourteen Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants, based in Honolulu, have tested positive, while sixty employees have been asked to self-isolate for 14-days. This was as a result of masks not being required at a training program. Hawaiian also indicated that one of the flight attendants had worked on a flight prior to feeling sick. Company rules have since changed to help prevent another incident going forward.
Dr. Sarah Park, the Hawaii state epidemiologist, said those involved had been told, “masking was optional. She added, “It is the act of gathering and letting our guard down, not wearing a mask.”
Beat of Hawaii: Hawaiian has always been extremely safety conscious. We sense that masking will be required at all times in the future to also protect employee to employee interactions.
In a letter to employees, Hawaiian CEO Peter Ingram said those involved were attending a two-day training that included close interaction. He said that masks will now be required instead of recommended for employees in the HA offices. “In response, we have revised our training policies to reduce the risk of virus spread in these settings. We are also making sure that these valued members of our ohana are receiving the proper medical care, and that we contact all who may have been in proximity.”
Hawaiian Airlines has since revised its employee safety measures. They have canceled training for two weeks for both deep cleaning and the implementation of more rigorous protocols.
Alex Da Silva, Hawaii spokesperson said, “We are supporting our team members in their recovery, and other employees involved in the training have been self-monitoring their health, in accordance with CDC and state Department of Health guidance provided to us… We have also reinforced our office protocols to keep our employees safe and have temporarily canceled our flight attendant training in order to deep clean our facilities.”
Safety protocols onboard Hawaiian Airlines flights.
Passengers are required to wear face masks on all Hawaiian Air flights, and flight attendants wear them as well when serving guests. While a complimentary meal is still offered, no drinks are poured (bottles and cans only), Pau Hana cart snack cart sales are gone, no alcohol is served in coach, and not seen any longer are pillows, blankets, and newspapers.
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Amber says
This training class cluster is now 24 people AND 1 of those people infected others at 2 gyms on Oahu. This started 2 more virus clusters of approximately 20 more people. Anyone considering long haul flights for vacation or non-essential travel during a pan demic clearly isn’t taking this public health crisis seriously.
Les says
And while everyone else is abiding by “rules” what flights were affected?.has it been released so that passengers can be tested, and lets see how many are infected from that?…my families trip is cancelled not because of the restrictions on island or prior..its those on the plane..I don’t care how much planes are sanitized..its the ones that’t abide and in this case Hawaiian is its own worse enemy!!!
Jo Ann F says
Were flight 141 hilo to Hnl
& flt 522 NHL to hilo affected on July 2, 2020? I flew that day.
Thank you
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Jo Ann.
Sorry, we do not have that information.
Aloha.
Jim R. says
I find it interesting how the National Media is only talking about how people are catching this flu virus, with the “rise in cases”, but not one “peep” about the number of deaths in relation to the total number of cases and/or the actual survival rates. I am all for safety, but the fear mongering clearly continues.
I am curious…am I the only one that thinks the hundreds of thousands of protesters and rioters not wearing face masks, have a significant contribution to the rise in cases, as well as the significant increase in amount of testing that’s been going on over the last 3 months?
Syd N says
If you were a nurse at this time on the front line it wouldn’t matter how you got the virus but what to do to stop it at any cost. This is not time to blame just do the 3 things being asked. And they are not difficult. Wear a mask to protect yourself and others, wash your hands and social distance. It’s about being human and caring what happens to all of us. Not about pride or politics or civil liberties.
Have a nice day and stay well.
Rod K. says
interesting comment…are you practicing safety protocol such as washing hands properly, keep you surfaces clean, shower daily, wear masks and social distancing.? If not, then you should not point out that the protesters are major contributors. Perhaps, you should look at the man in the mirror. Good day!
Gary C says
No alcohol in Coach. Does this mean there is alcohol in First class and Business class? What’s the rationale behind that? The passengers are on a flying Petri dish. C0VID won’t stay in First or Business; it will float around the plane.
Laurie S. says
After all that is known about transmission and that wearing a mask is scientifically proven to greatly reduce the spread of the horrid virus that Hawaiian Airlines did not have mandatory masking is ludicrous and has now put more people’s lives at risks. Shame on the company, shame on the employees. No wonder America is way ahead of other countries in cases.
Lorna L says
[Edited]. When we flew from Hilo round trip to Honolulu March 15, soon as the passengers were off the incoming flight, we were loaded into the plane. NO CLEANING TOOK PLACE. Luckily we brought sani wipes and the flight attending did a thumbs’ up signal. I was extremely disappointed in HA.
Bob D. says
I can only hope that all tested positive will have good outcomes. What I dont understand is all of the negative opinions and again just opinions opinions. Also why is it so hard for people to not take responsibility and just put a mask on. It’s called Personal Protective Equipment. There are no guarantees, but 10%, 20% or even 50% chance of protection is better than doing nothing. If wearing a mask is the most inconvenience in ones life, I take the mask anytime. By doing so, we might save a life or two along the way and travel to the islands or other destinations we live – Aloha!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Bob.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Nancy says
Please may I clarify? The bottom line we must clarify is: Are test results accurate? Are vaccines safe without proper testing? Do people have rights over their own bodies? CDC and WHO have publicly admitted to discrepancies in reporting/testing/numbers of cases of C0vid 19. Time for the truth and to stop being at odds with each other and living in fear. Masks have pro and con information from qualified doctors. Do your own research. Please let’s get to the bottom of the testing/cases reported/vaccine issue. Thanks for listening and for doing your part to solve this big problem. Together we can do this! Take care all! Mahalo!
Nancy says
Excellent comments! Thank you for caring enough to keep asking questions! That is the only way we are going to get to the bottom of the C0vid issue and solve the problems. Operating out of fear will get us nowhere but instead running in circles and at odds with each other. Facts presented in a logical, truthful way is the only answer. Beat of Hawaii is it possible for you to forward these questions to Hawaiian Airlines for clarification?. Let’s compare apples with apples = not apples and oranges, as the saying goes. Or Hawaiian papayas with papayas, not papayas and eggplants. Try making a fruit salad with a raw eggplant! Let’s work together for the truth, and make it public. Enough clouded information or even lies already! Let me know if I can do something! Time for us to quit complaining and get some answers. Mahalo for your support on this.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Nancy.
All of the airlines flying to Hawaii are aware of Beat of Hawaii’s content. They typically don’t comment, however. The airlines are waiting for clarification from the state so that they can move forward.
Aloha.
Nancy says
Thank you for following up and your great job at clarifying. This is so important at this time. Mahalo!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Nancy.
Thank you.
Aloha.
Doug S. says
Wow! just NOT feeling safe to return to our Waikiki Condo! If this goes on for much longer visiting may not be a option. I view the airplace as the “death tube”
Jim R. says
Aloha Doug!
Actually most Airline passenger flights, especially aircraft that accomodate quite a few people, have hepa filtration systems, by filtering out inside air and bringing in outside air, which in-turn recirculates clean air roughly every 3 minutes or so. They are effectively producing clean air like they do in Hospital Operating Rooms. If people are wearing masks and maintaining social distancing as much as possible on Airliners, you are likely more safe than visiting a crowded grocery store, where people do or don’t wear masks.
That said, the likelihood of you catching any virus has more to do with someone coughing or sneezing on something you have touched, and then you touching your nose mouth or eyes. If you wash your hands or use sanitizer frequently, you are no more likely to catch any virus in an airplane, than you would be in any high traffic location, and significantly less likely, while wearing a mask, practicing safe distancing, and not touching your face, as compared to a full bus load of people, where the air is not filtered.
Don K says
Interesting but exactly WHICH test were they positive for, the one that said they were active cases or the one that says they had the virus at some indeterminate time in the past and also responds positive to just about ANY virus that the test can respond to including the common cold has NOTHING to do with the current chaos going on. It is spelled out clearly on the CDC website. Such a huge difference in what the tests show that apparently no one in POWER wants to talk about. Why is that?
Laurie S. says
Most likely the PCR and not the antibody test. It can take 1-3 weeks to produce antibodies
Crista S says
Thank you for the info on the antibody test. I checked the CDC website and saw what you mentioned. A positive antibody test could mean you just had the common cold since they are both part of the Corona family.
JasonG says
Christa S, that is not the case that a positive antibody test could mean exposure to the common cold. The C0VID antibody test is specific for antibodies to this virus. The specificity is typically >99% which means it is highly specific for antibodies to C0VID. However, no test is 100% accurate and false positives and negatives can occur. This is also true for the PCR test for active disease which is still a highly accurate test although false positives and negatives can occur at a very low rate. I work for a company that develops these tests… Lets not spread misinformation please. Mahalo
wendy p says
Just as a matter of health truth – are you aware that this ‘test’ for c0vid19 shows up to 80% false positives and up to 30% false negatives – making it absolutely useless? This is a crucial piece of information in my opinion. The main stream media narrative is not telling the truth about c0vid19, is highly censored and is no longer any resemblance of ‘free press’. I share only because I care about all humans, truth and freedom.
Anyone who really wants to take a deep dive into health, viruses etc.
peace.
James B says
Would you please source your info? I scanned multiple articles citing the specific scientific studies of various virus tests. The best (worst?) false positive rates were 14.8%, meaning that ~85 out of 100 tests were accurate positives. The only study that contradicted these measurements was a Chinese study published in a rather obscure Chinese medical journal. That was posted on Reddit, a breeding ground for conspiracy theories and sketchy information. That posting on Reddit was from a Chinese medical journal published in early March, when early tests showed higher false positives.
I think that your political slip may have exposed itself by your characterization of “mainstream media narrative” (which outlets would that be?) and “highly censored an no longer any resemblance of free press”.
In the future, should you post your opinion, it would be helpful to cite specific sources that are “highly censored”, but especially ones that run counter to nearly every published story. Otherwise, your warnings carry the risk of actually putting more people at risk.
Laurie S. says
I have not heard those statistics and I have been reading scientific research from medical professionals for about 2 months.
Testing is still a useful tool in this fight.
Remember to mask, use good hand hygiene and practice safe distancing. We are all responsible for preventing the spread.
Aloha
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Laurie.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Jared X says
Masks optional? Are these people still living back January or February of 2020? I mean, on the big island there are basically ZERO cases on the entire island–and we’re all still wearing masks everywhere in public. Duh. Sure, it sucks–and it’s overkill–but what’s the alternative?
I’d like more info on this event. Like… did all 14 people who contracted the virus opt NOT to wear masks? Or did some wear masks and others did not? How many people attended total–and how many wore masks? I mean, if, say 1/2 the people who caught the virus weren’t wearing masks and the other 1/2 were–that would be important to know. But if all 14 weren’t wearing masks… that would also be important to know.
Inquiring minds…
Kevin K. says
In almost all these stories about people in a group later testing positive (this, MLB players, cruise ship passengers, factory workers), there is a huge annoying gap in the reporting. That is, how did it turn out for them? How many had to be hospitalized or (God forbid) passed away? How many had serious symptoms but not hospitalization, how many had mild symptoms, and how many were never sick at all? These kinds of details are especially vital in understanding what happened when the testing included people who were in the group but not sick at that point.
Bill w says
Looks like I’ll be flying Alaska airlines