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Concerns have been raised about passengers being infected after it emerged that two baggage handlers at Heathrow Airport had been diagnosed with coronavirus.

British Airways confirmed yesterday that two members of its staff are recovering at home after testing positive for the Covid-19 virus.

And Heathrow Airport said it is following advice from Public Health England in order to contain the spread of the virus.

Medics currently do not know how the disease is spread - but say it's likely that cough droplets are to blame.

Baggage handlers rarely have any interaction with passengers, but several took to social media to share concerns that people could be infected.

A spokesman for the airline said yesterday: “Public Health England has confirmed that two members of our staff have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.

(Image: Dennis Stone/Shutterstock)

“The colleagues have been isolated and are recovering at home.”

A statement from Heathrow said: “The welfare of our passengers and colleagues is our top priority. A dedicated Public Health England team is operating at Heathrow to respond to any incidents at the airport, and we are working closely with them to ensure our colleagues are following their latest guidance in its entirety to protect themselves and our passengers.

"In line with Public Health England’s advice, we have enhanced thorough cleaning processes, increased the availability and provision of hand sanitisers for our colleagues and continue to advise anyone working or travelling through the airport to follow the Government’s advice to maintain good hand hygiene.”

(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Neither the airport nor the airline have referenced concerns that the illness could be passed on to passengers.

British Airways has cancelled flights to mainland China following the outbreak.

The disease is believed to have originated in the city of Wuhan, which was put in lockdown in an effort to contain it.

One person contacted British Airways on Twitter asking: "Will people on the flights with the two BA staff infected with coronavirus be affected?"

Another wrote: "This can't be good. BA baggage handlers could have passed the virus onto passengers' luggage, as the virus is known to survive on plastic surfaces for up to three days..."

Mirror Online has contacted BA for further comment.

Publlic Health England has enhanced its monitoring for certain flights, and each time someone is diagnosed they work to locate people who the person had contact with.

NHS guidance currently says : "Because it's a new illness, we do not know exactly how coronavirus spreads from person to person.

"Similar viruses are spread in cough droplets.

"It's very unlikely it can be spread through things like packages or food."

Two people have died in the UK after being diagnosed with coronavirus.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said last night: “I am very sorry to report a second patient in England who tested positive for Covid-19 has sadly died. I offer my sincere condolences to their family and friends and ask that their request for privacy is respected.

“The patient, who was being treated at the Milton Keynes University Hospital, was an older patient who had underlying health conditions. Contact tracing is already underway.”

It follows the death of a woman aged in her 70s in Berkshire from the virus, who became the first victim of the outbreak in the UK.