Commentary: No need to be too anxious about flying without a mask

Commentary: No need to be too anxious about flying without a mask

PROOF OF COVID-19 TRANSMISSION ON BOARD?

Simply because 10 passengers in one flight tested good within a few days of travel does not mean they all caught the virus in the same place.

Incubation times may differ from person to person. They could are actually infected days prior to they travelled, along the way to or in the airport, in the airport, or even after coming to their destination.

Passengers may also be in danger when in shut contact or squeezed collectively in the aisles during starting and disembarking, so when the air filtration systems are switched off or operating at a reduced capability.  

Many studies have examined flights where COVID-19 transmitting on board was suspected, but there is nevertheless no conclusive answer. Without doing entire genome sequencing to identify a specific cluster, it is impossible to confirm exactly where along their journey someone became contaminated.

Some research which studied the particular viral genome recommended transmission was probable and most likely to occur in the same row as or within the two or three rows before or behind a good index case. Yet other studies also found that no travellers seated in closeness of a symptomatic situation tested positive pertaining to COVID-19.

High-traffic areas such as around the toilets and galley where people tend to gather or move across were also potential hotspots. Other studies found that long-haul flights might be riskier than shorter travels.