The Transport Workers' Union (TWU) recently claimed that Qantas staff at Adelaide Airport were directed to continue working after being exposed to coronavirus.
Health authorities in South Australia (SA) on Monday said in a media release that about 750 Qantas staff being requested to self-isolate at home after in an attempt to contain a cluster of cases linked to the airport.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, it included 18 baggage handlers, three other workers and 13 close contacts. And TWU said it was compiling evidence Qantas "knowingly exposed" workers to the virus after it was made aware of the first confirmed case.
"We're being told Qantas staff were directed to attend work, they were concerned about their health and safety, but they went to work," said Ian Smith, the secretary of the SA branch of the TWU.
"Some of them have become infected and they've infected their families -- that's disastrous and totally unsatisfactory and that could have been stopped."
The SA Health on Monday said "At this stage, no public areas are believed to have been affected, however, anyone who is sick with symptoms of the COVID-19 and has been at the Adelaide Airport, including in the terminal or car park, should present for testing."
In a statement, Qantas declared that it complied with authorities' directions.
"Unfortunately, a few weeks ago one of our baggage handlers at the airport entered the workplace while infectious and unknowingly passed the virus to others," it said.
"Any employee identified as needing to self-isolate through SA Health's contact tracing process has been immediately directed to do so."
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