Another reason to not fly during the pandemic

[George K]

Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 During Long Flight

Abstract

To assess the role of in-flight transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), we investigated a cluster of cases among passengers on a 10-hour commercial flight. Affected persons were passengers, crew, and their close contacts. We traced 217 passengers and crew to their final destinations and interviewed, tested, and quarantined them. Among the 16 persons in whom SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected, 12 (75%) were passengers seated in business class along with the only symptomatic person (attack rate 62%). Seating proximity was strongly associated with increased infection risk (risk ratio 7.3, 95% CI 1.2–46.2). We found no strong evidence supporting alternative transmission scenarios. In-flight transmission that probably originated from 1 symptomatic passenger caused a large cluster of cases during a long flight. Guidelines for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection among air passengers should consider individual passengers’ risk for infection, the number of passengers traveling, and flight duration.

Among passengers seated within 2 meters from case 1, which we approximated in business class to be <2 seats away, 11 (92%) were SARS-CoV-2–positive compared with 1 (13%) located >2 seats away (risk ratio 7.3, 95% CI 1.2–46.2) (Table 2). Of the 12 additional cases in business class, symptoms subsequently developed in 8 (67%); median symptom onset was 8.8 days (interquartile range 5.8–13.5) after arrival (Figure 2). None of the additional cases showed COVID-19 symptoms while on board VN54. All 12 additional cases in business class met the definition of probable secondary cases.

...

We conclude that the risk for on-board transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during long flights is real and has the potential to cause COVID-19 clusters of substantial size, even in business class–like settings with spacious seating arrangements well beyond the established distance used to define close contact on airplanes. As long as COVID-19 presents a global pandemic threat in the absence of a good point-of-care test, better on-board infection prevention measures and arrival screening procedures are needed to make flying safe.

[Klaus]

How about giving each passenger a real FFP-2 mask that must be worn during the flight, together with thorough disinfection of relevant body parts before the mask is removed?

[Mik]

How about if I just drive. I am fortunate that I enjoy long car trips. What I never liked about flying was there was usually no sense of the journey. You just get on the plane and voila, you are there.

[Klaus]

Well, that alternative won't work well for a 10h flight.

[Mik]

[George K]

@Mik is that the Diamond Princess?

[Mik]

Queen Mary 2.

[George K]

@Mik said in Another reason to not fly during the pandemic:

Queen Mary 2.

I knew that (it says so below the stack). I was being sarcastic.

[brenda]

@Mik said in Another reason to not fly during the pandemic:

How about if I just drive. I am fortunate that I enjoy long car trips. What I never liked about flying was there was usually no sense of the journey. You just get on the plane and voila, you are there.

Ditto to all the above. We won't be flying for a long time yet. Driving isn't perfectly safe either with restrooms, etc. , but it's better.

[Mik]

UV wand for restrooms...

https://www.sharperimage.com/si/view/product/Travel+UV+Sanitizing+Wand/205847?p=plist2470005&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Shopping+Campaigns+High+Priority&Keyword=&device=c&creative=&cm_mmc=CPC--Google--Shopping+Campaigns+High+Priority-_-&network=s&matchtype=e&adpos=&creative=&mkwid=ThOfrOqY|pkw||pcrid||pmt|e|pdv|c|slid||&msclkid=f342637627811291663c3c1e96c8e5b5

[taiwan_girl]

That is scary stuff. I fortunately have not had a long flight in a while.

[Doctor Phibes]

I've been waiting to get over to the UK for ages to help sort out my mum's house - I still don't feel like risking it.

[jon-nyc]

@George-K said in Another reason to not fly during the pandemic:

@Mik is that the Diamond Princess?

lol

[brenda]

@Mik said in Another reason to not fly during the pandemic:

UV wand for restrooms...

https://www.sharperimage.com/si/view/product/Travel+UV+Sanitizing+Wand/205847?p=plist2470005&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Shopping+Campaigns+High+Priority&Keyword=&device=c&creative=&cm_mmc=CPC--Google--Shopping+Campaigns+High+Priority-_-&network=s&matchtype=e&adpos=&creative=&mkwid=ThOfrOqY|pkw||pcrid||pmt|e|pdv|c|slid||&msclkid=f342637627811291663c3c1e96c8e5b5

Yeah, try telling my bladder it has to wait while I find an outlet near the toilet, or set up an extension cord to run that thing before I can pee. Good luck with that as a gal pushing 60 who's been on the road for several hours after a large coffee.