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While the risk of in-flight transmission of #coronavirus is relatively less, it seems now proven in studies that it can spread.
Thread :
Thread :
On a 10-hour London to Hanoi, flight :
A cluster of COVID-19 cases among passengers were detected, affected persons were passengers, crew, and their close contacts.
Traced 217 passengers and crew to their final destinations and interviewed, tested, and quarantined them. 2/n
A cluster of COVID-19 cases among passengers were detected, affected persons were passengers, crew, and their close contacts.
Traced 217 passengers and crew to their final destinations and interviewed, tested, and quarantined them. 2/n
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. 3/n
Seating proximity was strongly associated with increased infection risk. 3/n
The study concludes :
Risk for on-board transmission during long flights is real & has potential to cause COVID-19 clusters of substantial size, even in business class with spacious seating arrangements well beyond established distance used to define close contact on planes. 4/n
Risk for on-board transmission during long flights is real & has potential to cause COVID-19 clusters of substantial size, even in business class with spacious seating arrangements well beyond established distance used to define close contact on planes. 4/n
It further adds :
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. 5/n
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. 5/n
Similarly, four persons with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection had traveled on a flight from Boston, Massachusetts, USA, to Hong Kong, China. 6/n
Their virus genetic sequences were found identical, unique, and belonged to a clade not previously identified in Hong Kong, which "strongly suggests that the virus can be transmitted during air travel." 7/n
Airline lobbying @iata says:
The flights studied took place in March and a lot has taken place since. Most notably, face masks and face coverings are now common practice during flights and other environments where social distancing is not possible. 8/n
The flights studied took place in March and a lot has taken place since. Most notably, face masks and face coverings are now common practice during flights and other environments where social distancing is not possible. 8/n
It adds :
We believe that the data is telling us that the risk of onboard transmission of the virus is low when compared with other public indoor environments, such as trains, buses, restaurants and workplaces. 9/n
We believe that the data is telling us that the risk of onboard transmission of the virus is low when compared with other public indoor environments, such as trains, buses, restaurants and workplaces. 9/n
You can read the full #aviation studies here @CDCgov :
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/11/20-3254_article
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/11/20-3299_article
Ends
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/11/20-3254_article
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/11/20-3299_article
Ends
