A Rail Worker Died Of The Coronavirus After A Man Who Said He Had COVID-19 Spat On Her
A police investigation has been launched by the British Transport Police after a railway ticket office worker died from Covid-19. According to reports, the 47-year-old woman named Belly Mujinga had been on duty when a man purposefully spat and coughed on her. He also told the women that he had the virus which has caused a worldwide pandemic and thousands of deaths.
Mujinga had an underlying health condition and was working for Govia Thameslink Railway on the station concourse when the attack took place.
The incident happened on March 22 and included another working colleague of Mujinga’s. Overall, the attack highlights an especially disturbing problem in the UK, which involves COVID-19 and race. According to CNN, Black people in the UK four times more likely to die from Covid-19 than white people, new data shows.
“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,” Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) said in its statement. “Management said they needed people working outside and sent them back out onto the concourse for the rest of their shift.”
When both of the women returned to their shift, they do so without any personal protective equipment.
In a statement about Mujinga’s death, the TSSA said the GTR was aware of her condition and accused the train system of only allowing Mujinga to leave when her physician called her employers around March 25.
“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,” Manuel Cortes, TSSA general secretary said in an accusatory statement on behalf of the TSSA. “There are serious questions about her death, it wasn’t inevitable.”
Mujinga’s death has highlighted the roles deemed as “essential” during current times, putting into question their need to be put into operation.
It’s imperative, now more than ever, that governments and ruling bodies put protections in place for all people. Particularly those deemed essential.
