Border Force officer working at Heathrow Airport dies of coronavirus after falling ill at work
A BORDER Force guard working at Heathrow Airport has died after contracting coronavirus.
The officer, who hasn't been named, is said to have fallen ill while at work and colleagues have paid tribute to him.
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Border Force director Nick Jariwalla said the officer was a “dedicated and professional officer known for his kindness and generosity. He will be greatly missed.
"Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends at this most difficult time."
It is thought he died last week after becoming unwell with the killer bug.
Last month we told how Heathrow Terminal 3 worker Sudhir Sharma, 61, died from covid-19.
A source said: “It’s an absolute tragedy. He was a lovely, lovely man. Every immigration officer is talking about it.”
Border Force officers carry out immigration and customs controls for people and goods coming into the UK.
Government guidance for Border Force staff is to wear full protective gear if they need to interview anyone and can't be two metres apart - but that they do not need to wear masks or gloves for day-to-day work.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The safety of the public and our staff is of the utmost importance.
"In line with Public Health England guidance, all staff have protective clothing and equipment available, including masks and disposable gloves, for when they are in close contact with anyone displaying symptoms.”
It comes as coronavirus deaths in the UK yesterday pushed past the 12,000 barrier - but the grim total could be 15 per cent higher than reported.
The Department of Health confirmed a total of 12,107 people have died from the bug in hospital - a rise of 778.
However, new official figures collated by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show 21 per cent of all deaths in England and Wales up to April 3 were caused by the killer bug.
Cases have risen in the UK to more than 90,000 - as more people continue to get struck down with the bug.
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NHS heroes fighting on the frontline against coronavirus say they've been forced to buy their own protective equipment from DIY stores.
Data from the NHSppe app, created to track shortages of PPE, found that 52 per cent of doctors lacked the correct gowns for high risk procedures.
One health worker said: “There are no gowns available to staff dealing with Covid-positive patients.
"The hospital says they will not provide us with scrubs and we are to take our infected clothes home and wash them. I have vulnerable relatives at home."
Europe has now seen more than one million cases of coronavirus, making it the worst hit continent in the global pandemic.
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Germany suffered its deadliest day with a death toll of 285 in 24 hours - nearly a 10 percent increase from last week.
The spike in deaths comes despite a slowing infection rate which has prompted some experts to call for the re-opening of schools "as soon as possible."
Experts warn the time lag between infection and death means a country's death figures may continue to worsen even once the number of cases slows down.
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