For several months now, the new coronavirus pandemic has made travel impossible for most people. The threat of contracting or spreading the virus has kept many of us close to home, observing social distancing measures, and for good reason.
In fact, the number of airplane passengers has plummeted: On April 1, for example, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported that it checked in at just over 136,000 travelers compared to bustling 2.1 million travelers the same day from the previous year.
But as countries begin to loosen closure restrictions and companies begin to reopen, many people are considering whether it is safe to fly again.
The short answer is that it is safer to stay home for now. From security lines and airport terminals to the plane itself, air travel requires spending time indoors with one another, and therefore increases your chances of finding the coronavirus.
But if you must fly, there are steps you can take to help protect yourself (and protect others).
We give you nine safety tips to reduce the risk of contracting or transmitting germs during air travel.
Research the airline
Before booking a flight, do your homework to find out what airlines are doing to protect passengers and employees.
Many airlines have dedicated sections of COVID-19 on their websites where they discuss the strategies they are implementing to reduce the spread of the coronavirus during flights.
To begin, look for revised approach procedures that reinforce patterns of social distancing . Since the boarding often involves large groups of people, getting on and off the plane is the big risk , and each airline must do their best to have a solution for that.
Many airlines are already employing boarding procedures, such as back-and-forth boarding to maintain physical distance and eliminate crowding on the cargo bridge and in the cabin.
It is also recommended to choose an airline that imposes strict limitations on carry-on baggage to avoid overcrowding during boarding. Limiting luggage will encourage people to remain seated: the fewer carry-ons you have, the less time you'll be standing in the hallway (and interacting with others) to open the overhead compartments.
In addition, you will be interested to know the ways in which the airline is adjusting its food service on board . Those who provide full-service meals have a higher risk of transmitting the coronavirus. For safer food service, in-flight meals may include a bagged meal placed on the seats before boarding with a zippered biological safety bag for final disposal. Similarly, individual beverage cups should not be refilled by staff.
And be sure to find out about the airline's mask policy. Masks or face covers must be required for all passengers and crew during boarding, flight and disembarkation. There are some companies that recommend them, but do not oblige.
Reduces interactions at the airport
When it comes to contracting (and spreading) the coronavirus, airports pose as great a risk as the planes themselves. Think only of all the people you meet during check-in and security.
Although you can't completely avoid these person-to-person contacts, there are a few simple things you can do to limit them before you get to the airport.
Experts encourage passengers to print boarding passes or use mobiles , take advantage of the self-bag tag and leave them where they are available, and use self-service kiosks at the airport.
That said, he also considers self-check-in screens to be among the most germ-bearing places at an airport. A 2018 study by InsuranceQuotes.com investigated colony-forming units, or the number of viable bacteria and fungal cells per square inch, on airport surfaces and found that the average self-check-in screen contains more than 253,857 UFC (for reference, that's more than your toilet).
Still, the best way to stay safe at the airport is to wash your hands with soap and water (rinse for at least 20 seconds) or use an ethanol-based hand sanitizer as soon as you finish at the self-service kiosk.
Use nasal spray as a safeguard
When traveling in a confined space for a significant period of time with many people (such as a long-distance flight), the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene (IFH) recommends using a prophylactic cold and flu defense nasal spray before, during and after your trip.
This helps prevent the virus from infecting you through this route if you inadvertently transfer any virus to the lining of your nose.
Practiced in conjunction with social distancing and wearing a mask, this nasal spray strategy can provide another layer of protection.
Limit bathroom visits
Once aboard the plane, try to keep your trips to the bathroom to a minimum.
Services are a problem. When you consider the number of people who frequent the bathroom, you can see why. From the toilet handle to the faucet to the doorknob, countless hands litter bathroom surfaces.
Since COVID-19 can live on these surfaces for hours or days, your best option is to avoid touching them.
Some airlines are trying to address these safety issues by employing an on-board cleaner that regularly disinfects toilets during long-haul flights.
Aircraft toilets are also problematic, in part because the area near the toilet tends to be crowded or blocked by passengers waiting to use the facilities. You don't want to be in line where you will be in close contact with other travelers who may be infected.
That is why many airlines are trying to reduce mobility on board by limiting the lines in the restrooms.
When using the bathroom, be sure to wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds afterward and then dry them completely with a paper towel. Use the paper towel to open the door when you go out, to avoid touching the handle directly.
Keep your air on
You have probably heard that an air conditioner can make you sick, but using your personal air vent on an airplane can have advantages in avoiding the germs that cause COVID-19.
The IFH recommends that travelers keep the personal ventilation system on their seats when traveling on an airplane. This helps ensure that any viruses circulating around you are directed towards the floor of the cabin.
Remember, the new coronavirus is spread primarily through respiratory drops produced when an infected individual coughs, sneezes, or speaks. In fact, when you talk, these tiny droplets can float in the air for no less than eight minutes, according to a May 2020 study published in PNAS.
So when you use your air vent, you can potentially create an air flow that can help prevent pathogenic particles in the air from reaching you.
However, this strategy should never replace tried and true techniques such as social distancing and the use of a mask.
Practice social distancing
Although it can be particularly difficult on board a confined space like a sealed plane, you should still try to stay away from other people as much as you can.
Remember, to limit the spread of the coronavirus, experts always recommend keeping at least 2 meters away. But really, how can you practice social distancing on an airplane when passengers are in seats like sardines?
You can start by booking a flight outside of peak hours and choosing an airline that ensures that not all seats will be filled.
However, keep in mind that when it comes to sitting, it is practically impossible to predict who will be next to you. The occupation of the middle seats, the space between the seats, the barriers between the seats or the distance between the passengers are at the discretion of the airline.
If you are lucky enough to pay, go for a Sky Suite with a door . But for most of us who don't have that luxury, it's not all bad news. The risk of viral transmission from passenger to passenger on board an airplane appears to be low. This may be due in part to customers sitting facing forward and not facing each other, the seat backs provide a natural barrier between passengers, and there is limited movement of passengers once seated.
Additionally, airflow is less conducive to droplet spread than other indoor environments since airflow rates are high, controlled (from ceiling to floor) directed to limit mixing, and HEPA filters Hospital grade (High Efficiency Particulate Air) help maintain a clean air supply.
That is why IATA does not support the mandate for physical distancing measures that would require that the intermediate seats be empty. Even if implemented, keeping the middle seat open will provide less than the recommended separation for social distancing.
Still, if someone next to you is coughing, sneezing, or just not wearing a face mask, you should do your best to move to another seat while you are going to sit or even during the flight if possible.
Except for that, sticking to your seat is the safest strategy. The less you move, the fewer points of contact you will have with other people who could carry the coronavirus. And if you are an asymptomatic carrier of COVID-19, it will prevent you from unintentionally transmitting the infection to others.
Wear a mask
As an additional layer against possible in-flight transmission, the use of face covers by travelers and face masks by the crew is recommended.
The masks are mainly source control. In other words, each person wears a mask to protect others, especially since an individual can be infectious even without symptoms.
And since your highest risk of getting the new coronavirus on an airplane comes from the people sitting next to you, wearing a mask becomes a crucial strategy to contain transmission of the life-threatening disease. Especially when you consider how far pathogens can travel when expelled by sneezing or coughing.
When someone sick sneezes or coughs, their germs can spray up to 2 meters . In fact, an April 2014 study in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics found that smaller particles can travel even longer distances (up to 2.5 meters).
A face covering not only suppresses the spread of these contagious respiratory droplets (by you or others), but also reminds you to keep your hands away from your nose and mouth, which are common routes of infection for the virus.
Just remember to research your airline's policy, as not all airlines have mandatory skins. Airlines that flexibly impose masking will have the highest risk of transmission during travel.
Disinfects hands and surfaces
If a COVID-19 carrier sneezes or coughs and those drops reach a nearby touching surface, they may be at risk of contracting the disease.
Remember, your partner's cough or sneeze microbial mist can spray 2 meters or more, and the new coronavirus can stick to surfaces for days.
So it is important to disinfect everything in your area. Travelers carrying disinfectant wipes can use them to clean the surfaces around them. Some airlines are providing wipes to passengers.
And always keep your hands clean to prevent pathogens from entering your eyes, nose or mouth. Your hands touch everything and eventually they will go to your mouth, whatever happens.
Ideally, use hand sanitizer instead of washing your hands in the onboard bathroom to limit unnecessary contact with others.
Assess your personal risk
There is no way to avoid it: traveling increases your chances of contracting and spreading the coronavirus. That's why experts continue to urge people to skip it whenever possible, especially if it's not essential. In short, staying home is the best way to protect yourself and protect others from getting sick.
But how big your risk is depends on several factors. If you are in a high risk category for age and health status, then it is really important to assess whether you really should travel. Adults 65 and older, immunocompromised individuals, and people with serious underlying medical conditions are more likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19.
In addition to these personal variables, you should also consider the location of your airport, as well as stopovers and transfers, and your final destination. Stay away from airports in the most popular cities that have been outbreaks of coronavirus.
