It's Almost Impossible to Get COVID-19 on an Airplane, New Military Study Suggests

Great, but you still have to get through two airports.

Even though it's still not peer reviewed, it really really highlights the importance of mask wearing. The study also doesn't account for moving around the cabin or turning while seated (to converse or what not). This does make me feel a little better about air travel, only if everyone wore a mask. That probably partially explains why the Asian countries are doing so well - they've been doing it since the beginning.

I knew this when I entered a plane in march, are they really slow at the US military? I hope not that slow then we lose a war against China, or even against our puppeplords in Russia.

*puppetlords

Since March 18th, I have taken 94 flights. I’ve yet to have a sniffle.

Granted those first months were awesome yet eery - flying transcontinental first class in a lie flat seat/bed for $103 and being one of only 2 of 3 in a 48 seat first class cabin, then walking down Dulles or other airports and being the only passenger! I’ve got some great photos.

Here’s one: flew Newark to Portland, Maine. I was the only passenger. Stayed at the 198 room doubletree hotel. The hotel that night had 5 guests. Upon check in, the employee asked me ‘which floor would you like?’

Now planes are full but there’s very good mask compliance and cleanliness.

Just my input.

I believe it. I flew about a month ago and with everyone in masks and the middle seat blocked, I wasn’t too worried. I remember pre covid, I flew every few months (There were no masks, no distancing, less sanitizing, and people probably traveling while sick), and never caught anything. It’s actually probably safer now.

Masks do nothing. People in planes don't slobber on each other, and that's the only thing a mask can stop.

Generally, people don't slobber on each other in public. If science were afraid they did, they'd have had them sewing up face diapers in March already. Now when cold/flu season comes back, instead of realizing they do nothing, people will think they would have died in the millions without them.

I wouldn't mind at all if this were true. Couple things, though.

The study was conducted in partnership with United Airlines

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/risk-covid-19-exposure-planes-virtually-nonexistent-masked/story?id=73616599

This doesn't automatically disqualify it, but United might conceivably be optimistic in how well the model portrays real-life conditions?

A businesswoman reportedly infected 15 others on an international flight back in March.

https://www.foxnews.com/travel/vietnam-airlines-passenger-spreads-coronavirus-15-flight-study

Apparently this was back when masks were not required. I'd actually like to know, how required is "required"? If your neighbor on the flight decides to unmask in the name of "freedom," will you have to choose between sitting next to him for 6 hours or missing the flight?

There's a decent chance I'd be all right if I got the virus, if I haven't already, but there are people I'm in contact with that I really would not want to infect.

As someone who was a mileage runner some time ago, it was a painful to see all the deals that I couldn't take advantage of, especially as a dual citizen. A kid and too many elder loved ones in my orbit to worry about kept me grounded.

flying runner wrote:

Since March 18th, I have taken 94 flights. I’ve yet to have a sniffle.

Granted those first months were awesome yet eery - flying transcontinental first class in a lie flat seat/bed for $103 and being one of only 2 of 3 in a 48 seat first class cabin, then walking down Dulles or other airports and being the only passenger! I’ve got some great photos.

Here’s one: flew Newark to Portland, Maine. I was the only passenger. Stayed at the 198 room doubletree hotel. The hotel that night had 5 guests. Upon check in, the employee asked me ‘which floor would you like?’

Now planes are full but there’s very good mask compliance and cleanliness.

Just my input.

At some point, you would figure that you would consider the old adage:

"When in a hole, stop digging"

Bad Wigins wrote:

Masks do nothing. People in planes don't slobber on each other, and that's the only thing a mask can stop.

Generally, people don't slobber on each other in public. If science were afraid they did, they'd have had them sewing up face diapers in March already. Now when cold/flu season comes back, instead of realizing they do nothing, people will think they would have died in the millions without them.

Have you read the study?

During the simulated cough tests, masked mannequins showed a "very, very large reduction in aerosol that would come out of [them], greater than 95% for most cases," Silcott said. "It definitely showed the benefit of wearing a mask inflight from these tests."

"the mask is very important in that the larger droplets that travel ballistically through the air will be caught by your mask," Pope said. "And if you don't have the mask on, then you cannot reduce those numbers of ballistic particles."

And no, if masks were important they wouldn't have been advocated for in March. There wasn't a lot known about it all then.

You don't need to slobber. You need to sing, speak loudly, shout, cough, sneeze, or breathe heavily.

DanM wrote:

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/10/15/its-almost-impossible-get-covid-19-airplane-new-military-study-suggests.html

Then why are they wearing masks during the study??

flying runner wrote:

Since March 18th, I have taken 94 flights. I’ve yet to have a sniffle.

Granted those first months were awesome yet eery - flying transcontinental first class in a lie flat seat/bed for $103 and being one of only 2 of 3 in a 48 seat first class cabin, then walking down Dulles or other airports and being the only passenger! I’ve got some great photos.

Here’s one: flew Newark to Portland, Maine. I was the only passenger. Stayed at the 198 room doubletree hotel. The hotel that night had 5 guests. Upon check in, the employee asked me ‘which floor would you like?’

Now planes are full but there’s very good mask compliance and cleanliness.

Just my input.

Love your post. I too have flown for work a decent amount since March. Not 94 times, but over a dozen in the months of April and May. On a DCA to Philly I only had one other person on the flight. I sat first class alone. I almost wanted to invite the other guy up, but things were so weird I wasn't sure I should engage anyone.

One thing I have found very odd is how you can open carry alcohol in the terminals because the bar areas are closed. Being in Dallas at like 9 am and only one other guy in sight and he has a beer in a clear plastic cup.

Just so weird at first, but getting closer to normal now as numbers of travelers increase.

Bad Wigins wrote:

Masks do nothing. People in planes don't slobber on each other, and that's the only thing a mask can stop.

Generally, people don't slobber on each other in public. If science were afraid they did, they'd have had them sewing up face diapers in March already. Now when cold/flu season comes back, instead of realizing they do nothing, people will think they would have died in the millions without them.

oh look! it's super expert!!

Airplanes actually do have very good ventilation systems. Ventilation quality is a big deal with transmission of the virus through aerosols. Schools that are using MERV13 filters and UV light on a good HVAC system are reporting low rates of transmission with students. Georgia Tech had an early spike in cases when students first came back, but has done well to contain transmission since then in part thanks to quality ventilation and filtering.

A big issue is with the study is that they presumed consistent mask wearing. If you take off your mask to eat or drink or have a crappy mask, that changes things. The study also assumed a single infected person shedding virus. It may be a different result if more than one person was shedding virus. And some who have reviewed the study think the estimates are off by a factor of 10.

But it is true that an airplane with good ventilation and everyone wearing masks can be a low risk environment. Unless you have an N95 mask, tyvek suit, googles, gloves and shower cap, there is always risk of transmission when you are around someone who is shedding virus. Studies like this are important to help understand the level of risk and to find weaknesses that can be improved. But no study should be proclaiming that risk has been eliminated.

Bad Wigins wrote:

Masks do nothing. People in planes don't slobber on each other, and that's the only thing a mask can stop.

Generally, people don't slobber on each other in public. If science were afraid they did, they'd have had them sewing up face diapers in March already. Now when cold/flu season comes back, instead of realizing they do nothing, people will think they would have died in the millions without them.

Piles of hard data prove otherwise, cretin. And this post proves, once again, that you're among the top-10 biggest idiots on LRC.

Dude - stop spending so much of your life, not to mention your time, here. And get a f****ing clue about the world.

Not worth risking the chance of contracting this horrible virus. The airplane travel can wait until we have a science backed vaccine. Stay safe!

Someone tell Dr. Fauci we can have Thanksgiving after all but only if its on a plane.

DanM wrote:

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/10/15/its-almost-impossible-get-covid-19-airplane-new-military-study-suggests.html

Now we know that's a lie. That is ridiculous on its face.

An airplane is where I always seem to catch a cold.

Recycled air in a small area with people crammed in.

If you cannot catch covid there then it just does not exist