A railway station worker in the UK has died from COVID-19 after she was apparently spat at and coughed over by someone claiming to have the virus, her trade union said today.
Transport union TSSA said 47-year-old Belly Mujinga contracted coronavirus with a colleague within days of the pair’s assault at London’s Victoria station on March 22.
“They were out on the concourse by the ticket office when they were assaulted by a member of the public who spat at them,” the union said in a statement.
“The man coughed over them and told them he had the virus.”
Several days later, Mujinga’s doctor requested she was given sick leave, noting she suffered from underlying respiratory problems, the TSSA said.
She was then stood down from work, but grew sicker and on April 2 was taken to hospital and put on a ventilator, it added.
Mujinga died three days later, leaving behind an 11-year-old daughter and husband.
The union said it had reported the case to rail industry safety watchdogs for investigation and was also taking legal advice “on the situation and supporting her family and colleagues”.
