Railway worker dies of coronavirus after being spat on

A UK railway worker died of COVID-19 after an ill traveler reportedly spat on her. The person was possibly infected with the novel coronavirus, the workers’ union reported Tuesday.

Belly Mujinga, 47, worked for the Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), on March 22 when the incident occurred at Victoria station in central London. According to a statement from her group, Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), Mujinga and her colleague were attacked by a member of the public who spit and coughed on them, telling the two women he was hopeful for COVID-19.
According to the group, the women reported the incident to the ticket office, and demanded that the police be contacted.

“Belly and her colleague begged to be let to work from inside the building with a protective barrier between them and the public for the rest of that day. They were concerned for their safety. Management said they needed people working outside and sent them back out onto the concourse for the rest of their shift,” the statement reads, noting that no face shields or other personal protection equipment (PPE) were allegedly issued at the time.

Within days both ladies became sick. Mujinga, who according to the union suffered from chronic respiratory problems, was admitted to Barnet Hospital on April 2, where she was ventilated. She died on 5 April, precisely two weeks after the attack.

In a statement, Manuel Cortes, the general secretary for TSSA, said the union was “shocked and devastated” to learn of Mujinga’s passing. “She is one of far too many front-line workers who have lost their lives to coronavirus,” he said, in part.

Having talked to ITV, the husband of the 47-year-old said the last time he saw his wife was when she was rushed to hospital by ambulance.
On April 29, a funeral was held for Mujinga, but only 10 people were allowed to attend, including the woman’s husband and 11-year-old daughter, due to social distancing steps.

Cortes, the TSSA general secretary, accused GTR of not treating the assault “seriously enough.”

“As a vulnerable person in the ‘at risk’ category and her condition known to her employer, there are questions about why GTR didn’t stand her down from front line duties early on in this pandemic. The assault she suffered at work was scary and we do not think the company treated it seriously enough,” he said, adding: “Our rail industry needs to have a very serious look at what tasks are deemed ‘essential’ and must put protections in place for all our members and our passengers.”

A British Transport Police spokesman has stated to ITV that he is investigating the incident, calling for witnesses.