Planes pose a unique risk for any disease contraction, including COVID-19. By Cassie Shortsleeve
1.Wear a mask.
The CDC recommends wearing face coverings “in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.” An airplane certainly fits the bill. “When you sit in your own seat, it might feel like personal space, but you’re still in a public space,” says Amler. “You should continue to wear a mask to help protect the airspace from infected particles.” Mask wearing can reduce the amount of virus in the airspace and—since even people who don’t know they’re sick with the infection can still expel enough virus with just exhaled breath to infect someone else—it’s a measure to keep others safe. “If everybody in an area is wearing a mask, then you’re basically keeping a space from getting contaminated with virus droplets,” says Amler.
2.Research airline policies around social distancing before booking.
It’s fair to wonder what airlines are doing to keep planes clean, keep passengers and staff safe, and keep virus risk low. After all, pre-COVID, research already suggested that sitting simply within two rows of someone with flu-like symptoms puts you at a 3.6 percent increased risk of getting sick with what they have. So how can you keep your distance on planes? Well, for now, it’ll depend on the airline you’re flying. For example, while some (American Airlines and United) continue to book middle seats, others still have them blocked. “I’m concerned about any social distance that’s less than six feet unless you’re talking about a household member,” Amler says when it comes to COVID risk. “The risk of transmission is much wider than we originally thought and the only way to protect yourself is to block exposure at every chance that you can.” We’ve compiled a complete guide to international and U.S. airlines’ coronavirus policies and looked into how airlines are changing their in-flight policies so you can compare boarding and in-flight experiences. Consider booking with an airline that matches up with your expectations and personal requirements.
3.Wash your hands.
Scrub your hands with water and any soap for at least 20 seconds to stay safe and clean, suggests the CDC. And remember: Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. These are the portals into your body for viruses.
Use a disinfectant with that same threshold of alcohol content. Wipe your seat, the seatback in front of you, the tray table, armrest, seat belt, and the buttons for the fan and light overhead, suggests Amler.
6.Consider going snack-free on short flights.
Airlines like Emirates have reduced in-flight food and beverage service to personal bento boxes to limit contact between the crew and passengers. If you’re hungry, you should eat. But eating does require you to take your mask off—potentially putting others around you at risk. If you can go without a snack on a short flight, consider it, suggests Amler.
While researchers around the world are working to develop one, as of now, there is no vaccine to prevent the coronavirus. But it’s never too late to get a flu shot, which can protect you against the sometimes serious (and deadly) flu. The CDC recommends getting the flu shot by October, ahead of the fall flu season.
9.When in doubt, follow the four W’s.
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To stay healthy whenever you leave home, former CDC director Dr. Tom Friedan recently tweeted to follow the “three W’s”: wear a mask, wash your hands, watch your distance. Amler adds a fourth: walk away. “Try to spend as little time as you can in situations that are close quarters,” he says. “If you’re crowded in, even for a short time, there’s a chance you can get exposed.” Keep this in mind in gate areas, when using airport transportation, and in common areas on planes.
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WASHINGTON, DC (8 MAR 2020)—As part of the cruise industry’s
continued commitment to the health and safety of guests and crew, as well as
the residents of port cities and destinations around the world, Cruise Lines
International Association (CLIA), the leading voice of the global cruise
industry, announced today the adoption of additional enhanced screening
measures in response to COVID-19.
As a result of these changes, which are
effective immediately, CLIA members are to:
Deny boarding
to all persons who have travelled from, visited or transited via airports in
South Korea, Iran, China, including Hong Kong and Macau, and any municipality
in Italy subject to lockdown (quarantine) measures by the Italian Government,
as designated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, within
14 days prior to embarkation.
Conduct illness
screening for all persons who have travelled from, visited or transited via
airports in any destinations listed on the U.S. CDC “Coronavirus
Disease 2019 Information for Travel” page within 14 days before
embarkation. Illness screening includes symptom history checks for fever, cough
and difficulty breathing in the 14 days before embarkation and taking of
temperature.
Conduct
temperature screening, as soon as they are capable, at initial embarkation for
all persons boarding. Any individual with a temperature detected at or above
100.4° F / 38° C is to receive secondary screening to include a medical
assessment.
Deny boarding
to all persons who, within 14 days prior to embarkation, have had contact with,
or helped care for, anyone suspected or diagnosed as having COVID-19, or who
are currently subject to health monitoring for possible exposure to COVID-19.
Conduct
pre-boarding screening necessary to effectuate these prevention measures.
Enhanced screening and initial medical support are to be provided, as needed,
to any persons exhibiting symptoms of suspected COVID-19.
In coordination with cruise lines,
medical experts and regulators around the world, CLIA and its member lines will
continue to closely monitor for new developments related to COVID-19 and will
modify these policies as necessary with the utmost consideration for the health
and safety of passengers and crew. With strict measures in place, as guided by
national and international health authorities, CLIA and its member lines, in
concert with pronouncements from the World Health Organization, do not believe
restrictions on the movement of ships are justified.
“The adoption of these measures further
demonstrates the cruise industry’s unique ability to respond quickly as circumstances
evolve,” said Kelly Craighead, President and CEO of CLIA. “We remain in close
contact with local governments around the world, and while we regret that these
changes will result in the denial of boarding for some of our guests, travelers
should know that their health and safety is the absolute priority for the
industry.”