Air Travel Safer Than Grocery Shopping, Eating Out Amid COVID-19: Study

Travelling by air does not pose as great a risk of contracting coronavirus as eating at a restaurant or going out to buy groceries.

In a study titled ‘Aviation Public Health Initiative’ scientists at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health have claimed that the rate of transmission of COVID-19 in passengers could drastically be reduced if they are encouraged to follow preventive measures.

“Guidelines to curb the spread of the virus mandate frequent washing of hands with soap, wearing masks at all times, ensuring constant ventilation and airflow in the aircraft and airport and regularly cleaning and sanitizing planes.”

“If followed, the approach reduces the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission onboard aircraft below that of other routine activities during the pandemic, such as grocery shopping or eating out,” the study said, Hindustan Times (HT) reported.

“Airlines and airports are campaigning to inform the public about actions they can take to reduce disease transmission on their journey. This includes public health safety information while booking, at check-in, boarding, and on the aircraft. Cabin crew receive training to identify and isolate potentially infected individuals should a case appear on board an aircraft,” the study added according to HT.