Coronavirus: Where to sit, and how to behave in a flight

Key points to know

1. Sit near the window seat of the flight
2. Wash hands with soap regularly, and use hand sanitiser
3. If you are in an aisle seat, avoid slow movement
4. Reduce the number of contacts with the passengers and try to remain in the seat
5. Avoid travelling when you are weak or ill

Over a dozen cities on lockdown, pausing tourism activities and striking transport links, China has blocked all its borders in reply to the expanse of the coronavirus. Airways, including British Airways, have cut down flights to and from China. Resulting in 362 deaths and 17,300+ infected people, the virus has been proved in more than 25 countries since it was 1st detected.

A study by the Emory University, Atlanta, USA, after collecting over 200 environmental samples from over 10 flights (Boeing 757), said the passengers at window seats were least at risk besides exposure to airborne diseases. “Passengers seated within one row and within two seats laterally of the infected passenger had an 80% or greater probability of becoming infected. For all other passengers, the probability of infection was less than 3%,” stated the study.

Experts from Emory University, also analysed the movement of passengers around an aircraft to show how the virus can spread. They stated that passengers who are anxious about catching the coronavirus should remain in their seats because, the longer you get up and walk around the plane, the more possibility you’ve got seeing yourself close to someone with the disease.

Fact- Those in window seats are less likely to get up from their seat, with just 43% walking around the aircraft opposed to 80% of people in aisle seats, meaning, they’re less likely to come in touch with the virus carriers.

Researchers also advised that infectious crew members could affect an aggregate of 4.6 passengers per flight.

“Careful hand hygiene,” must be practised, and flight attendants mustn’t fly when they’re ill. For this reason, cabin crew shouldn’t fly if they have any kind of infection – mainly one like coronavirus – as they have the most connection with passengers on a flight.