Scientific American: Evaluating COVID Risk on Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

During the holiday season, many Americans are likely to travel using mass transportation, which inevitably puts them at the risk of getting infected by the coronavirus. Many transit companies have established frequent cleaning routines, but studies have shown that airborne transmission poses a greater risk than surface transmission. An airplane cabin is likely the safest conditions one can be in. Many planes have excellent high-efficiency particulate air filters that capture more than 99% of particles in the air, including droplets that cause COVID. Moreover, most commercial passenger planes bring in outside air in a top-to-bottom direction about 20-30 times each hour. In addition, airlines have put extra measures such as requiring masks during flight or blocking off the middle seat to avoid close contact. For additional information on COVID-19, click here. For the full article, click here.