Date: 202004
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Confusion
Second reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Hazardous Material Violation; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
Detector: Person Flight Attendant
When detected: Pre-flight
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Procedure; Company Policy
Primary problem: Company Policy

Narrative: A passenger on a recent flight had tested positive for COVID-19. My crew and I were all notified of our certain exposure; but were informed that we would be expected to fly out a few days later. The company refused to give us alternate travel despite being potential carriers. We were not granted assurance of tests upon landing; or that we would be given leave to quarantine for the full recommended 14 days to allow for symptoms to manifest or not. The flight itself was booked with passengers who would not be informed that their working crew were potentially infected. Among our passengers were many who are considered high risk; and the crew that had worked the previously leg would also be on board; deadheading back to ZZZ. Along with mechanics and pilots who were also forced the deadhead home on our flight. Social distancing was not possible; with nearly every seat full; and with limited supply of masks (which were literally see-through material) it is very likely that entire plane is also now infected.Company noted the passenger's positive test; informed the crew and took no further action to ensure the safety of the infected crew and the incoming passengers/crew. Our crew took it upon ourselves to organize and schedule for COVID testing once we were back in base; along with attaining doctors notes to back our need to self-isolate.Company should have contingency plans in place to avoid a repeat of forcing an infected crew to interact with passengers and non-infected crew members. Better resources to get crews tested and given proper time to get results/isolate accordingly.


Second narrative: Cabin Crew was informed that a passenger on a previous flight had tested positive for COVID-19; which indicated to us that we had all been exposed. Company responded to our initial questions regarding our concerns about flying while exposed; but informed us that we were still expected to work the flight from ZZZZ to ZZZ. According to the a recent guidelines; a flight crew that has had a positive tested passenger/positive exposure are recommended to self-isolate 14 days and should be excluded from work. We were not given this option and instead asked to work a flight with numerous passengers who would be considered high risk for COVID-19. On the flight itself there were additional deadheading crew members who were also now at risk for exposure. The flight was basically fully occupied and social distancing measures were impossible to practice. I was initially scheduled to operate two more working flights a few days later as well; but was removed from those flights after I took the initiative to get tested and secure a physician's note grounding myself until the results came back.


Synopsis: Two flight attendants reported having to work a flight a few days later after being on a flight with a passenger who had tested positive for COVID-19.