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If You Are Taking A Plane Soon, This Is How Likely You Are To Catch The Coronavirus
So you might be flying in the next few days, and you’ve probably heard of the coronavirus spreading around the world. This means that some of the infected people have taken a flight, and if they did, you too could potentially be exposed.
How likely are you to catch a virus on a plane, and what should you do to protect yourself during the flight?
The good news is that according to the World Health Organization, the threat of catching a virus from the air is very low, as the air on the plane is purified through surgical-grade filters:
“ The quality of aircraft cabin air is carefully controlled. Ventilation rates provide a total change of air 20–30 times per hour. Most modern aircraft have recirculation systems, which recycle up to 50% of cabin air.
The recirculated air is usually passed through HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters, of the type used in hospital operating theatres and intensive care units, which trap dust particles, bacteria, fungi and viruses.”
There might be situations when the air-circulation system is not functioning, such as when the aircraft is still on the ground and there is a delay.
