Passenger gets text to say he has coronavirus moments before boarding plane

A passenger received a text telling him he'd tested positive for coronavirus moments before boarding a plane.

The incident which is thought to have happened on Friday has been confirmed by Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

The man, due to fly to Jersey, was said to have been waiting for his flight in one of the airport’s food and drink areas when he got the message.

After reporting he had Covid-19, he was assisted by staff to leave the airport and return home.

All passengers who were in the man’s immediate vicinity, or around where he had been sitting, were informed and the area closed while it underwent a deep clean and was sanitised.

Footage of the passenger shows that he was wearing his mask as he walked through the airport terminal.

A spokesperson for Liverpool John Lennon Airport said: “Earlier today a male passenger due to travel to Jersey reported to Airport staff that he had just received a text to say that he had tested positive for Covid-19.

“At the time, he had been waiting for his flight in one of the Airport food and drink areas.

“Staff at the Airport subsequently assisted the passenger to leave the premises and return home.

“All passengers who were in the immediate vicinity of where the individual had been seated, were informed of the situation and this area was immediately closed and subsequently underwent a thorough cleaning and sanitisation.

“CCTV footage shows that the passenger was wearing a face mask as he passed through the terminal.”

The news of the positive test at the airport came after the whole of Merseyside was placed on the coronavirus watch list after infection rates for the virus spiralled in the region.

Hundreds of pupils were sent home last week after positive coronavirus tests were confirmed and one school had to completely close due to an outbreak.

There are fears with the recent spike in cases that the region may be placed into a new lockdown with more severe restrictions being brought in similar to what has happened in Leicester and more recently Bolton.

On Friday when the news was confirmed that Liverpool had been placed on the danger list, Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson described it as "a huge blow but also a huge warning" to the people of the city.

And from today the new rule limiting the number of people that can meet in social gatherings down to six comes into force as the government attempts to tackle the rising infection rate across the country.