BOOM

Trending Searches

    SUPPORT
    BOOM

    Trending News

      • Fact Check 
        • Fast Check
        • Politics
        • Business
        • Entertainment
        • Social
        • Sports
        • World
      • Law
      • Explainers
      • News 
        • All News
      • Decode 
        • Impact
        • Scamcheck
        • Life
        • Voices
      • Media Buddhi 
        • Digital Buddhi
        • Senior Citizens
        • Videos
      • Web Stories
      • BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos 
        • Facts Neeti
      • Home-icon
        Home
      • About Us-icon
        About Us
      • Authors-icon
        Authors
      • Team-icon
        Team
      • Careers-icon
        Careers
      • Internship-icon
        Internship
      • Contact Us-icon
        Contact Us
      • Methodology-icon
        Methodology
      • Correction Policy-icon
        Correction Policy
      • Non-Partnership Policy-icon
        Non-Partnership Policy
      • Cookie Policy-icon
        Cookie Policy
      • Grievance Redressal-icon
        Grievance Redressal
      • Republishing Guidelines-icon
        Republishing Guidelines
      • Fact Check-icon
        Fact Check
        Fast Check
        Politics
        Business
        Entertainment
        Social
        Sports
        World
      • Law-icon
        Law
      • Explainers-icon
        Explainers
      • News-icon
        News
        All News
      • Decode-icon
        Decode
        Impact
        Scamcheck
        Life
        Voices
      • Media Buddhi-icon
        Media Buddhi
        Digital Buddhi
        Senior Citizens
        Videos
      • Web Stories-icon
        Web Stories
      • BOOM Research-icon
        BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs-icon
        BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker-icon
        Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos-icon
        Videos
        Facts Neeti
      Trending Tags
      TRENDING
      • #Operation Sindoor
      • #Pahalgam Terror Attack
      • #Narendra Modi
      • #Rahul Gandhi
      • #Waqf Amendment Bill
      • #Arvind Kejriwal
      • #Deepfake
      • #Artificial Intelligence
      • Home
      • Explainers
      • COVID-19: Flying With Safety...
      Explainers

      COVID-19: Flying With Safety Precautions Safer Than Grocery Shopping

      Harvard study says risk of COVID-19 transmission could be reduced in an aircraft because of layered protection measures such as masks

      By - Shachi Sutaria |
      Published -  30 Oct 2020 8:41 PM IST
    • Boomlive
      COVID-19: Flying With Safety Precautions Safer Than Grocery Shopping

      Universal wearing of face masks during the complete duration of flying along with the onboard ventilation system on aircrafts which continuously circulate and refresh the air supply are some of the key factors that assists in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in airplanes, notes a report published by Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.

      The report funded by Avian Public Health Initiative further emphasises that if these various measures are adopted by the aviation ministry, the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission while flying will be way lesser when compared to eating out or venturing out for grocery shopping. Researchers also clarified that the funding by the aviation industry had no effect on the findings of the study.

      Highlighting the use of face masks by both the crew and the passengers, the report also recommends following other precautionary measures under the "gate-to-gate" approach. Passengers are requested to follow distancing norms while boarding and deplaning. Along with maintaining the onboard ventilation that filters out more than 99 per cent of the COVID-19 causing particles, airlines are also expected to frequently disinfect all aircraft surfaces to avoid surface contamination and transmission.

      Passengers are also expected to be more responsible by carrying attestations which suggest that they are COVID-19 negative and are not exhibiting any symptoms to further mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in airlines. These forms regain importance at a time when Hong Kong has halted flights travelling from India for the fourth time after another passenger tested positive after landing in the country.

      The project was formulated with an intention to understand the intersection of the available scientific knowledge on COVID-19 transmission and its adoption to reduce the COVID-19 risk in the aviation industry. "Since implementing these measures in the spring of 2020, and with millions of passenger hours flown, there has been little evidence to date of onboard disease transmission," reads the report.

      While the strategies mentioned in "Gate-to-Gate " report comprise of Phase One activities within commercial airplanes, another Phase Two report is in the offing. The "curb-to-curb report intends to devise strategies for the smooth functioning of airport operations.

      Interventions To Reduce The Spread Of COVID-19 In Aircrafts

      Referencing to the modelling of airplane ventilation systems, the researchers divide the necessary actions into airline actions and traveler actions.

      Airline Actions

      1. Ventilation: The existing ventilation systems filter out COVID-19 particles that are operational while the flight is cruising should also be allowed to function on ground, says the report. The researchers recommend this change as during embarking as well as disembarking, while accessing their luggage in the overhead counters, passengers tend to be in closer proximity of each other.

      The downward flow of the ventilated air curbs the virus from spreading. Dr. Giridhar Babu had highlighted to BOOM in June that travelling via airplanes would be the safest due to the air conditioning in airplanes along with wearing masks and washing hands.

      2. Disinfection: "Airlines have specifically added additional procedures to prioritise the disinfection of high-touch surfaces between flights, and deeper cleaning and disinfection overnight or when there is enough time between flights," reads the report while adding that since the onset of COVID-19, airlines have increased the frequency and intensity of the ir disinfection protocols.

      3. Physical Distancing: The report acknowledges that maintaining physical distancing during boarding and disembarking is difficult as passengers are always moving around. To intensify physical distancing measures, the scientists recommend bringing about a change in the process. Passengers should be allowed to board and disembark through a row-by-row sequence observed by the inflight attendant.

      Traveler Actions

      1. The US has brought about a policy change that allows airlines to include any passenger in the no-fly list if they do not comply with the official COVID-19 precautionary guidelines.

      2. Face Masks: Both the crew and passengers are expected to wear a face mask during the complete journey. The frequency of removing masks for eating and drinking should also be kept to a minimum.

      Also Read:World Doctors Alliance Video Repeats Debunked COVID-19 Conspiracies



      Tags

      harvard study flightsflights safer than grocery storeharvard t chan schoolCOVID-19Coronavirus Outbreakaviationairlines
      Read Full Article
      Next Story
      Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
      Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker. Please reload after ad blocker is disabled.
      X

      Subscribe to BOOM Newsletters

      👉 No spam, no paywall — but verified insights.

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe for free!

      Stay Ahead of Misinformation!

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe Now🛡️ 100% Privacy Protected | No Spam, Just Facts
      By subscribing, you agree with the Terms & conditions and Privacy Policy connected to the offer

      Thank you for subscribing!

      You’re now part of the BOOM community.

      Or, Subscribe to receive latest news via email
      Subscribed Successfully...
      Copy HTMLHTML is copied!
      There's no data to copy!