If you don’t follow me on social media, you may not have had the chance to read my article about the calculated and actual risks of catching COVID-19 on a flight. Have a read here:
Just How Risky Is It To Fly In A Pandemic?
Although borders are now open between some countries and domestic flights available, many travelers are still afraid to fly. The thought of being in an enclosed space like an aircraft with a bunch of strangers can seem counter-intuitive, despite all the reassurances from airlines.
More information was released recently about a flight where it was believed that a passenger who potentially caught COVID-19 on the plane was seated well away from the original infectious passenger. The study was based on evidence collected on an evacuation flight from Milan, Italy, to Incheon, South Korea, Researchers believe that the person caught this on a visit to the toilet which was also visited by one of the infected passengers. In some ways, despite being a small space, toilets are safer as they have a high exchange rate of fresh air. However, there are lots of surfaces to touch and a steady flow of people one after the other. Another issue is that you don’t have to wear your mask in the bathroom and people may take it off just to have a quick respite from it. In this case, the passenger removed her mask in the toilet.
Studies suggested that the most likely phases of travel to catch the virus are not during the flight when you are seated, but getting on and off the plane as well as visiting the toilet.
To keep yourself safe it is recommended to keep your mask on in the toilet, try to allow time between people using the toilet, and if you touch any surfaces after washing your hands, use hand santiser.
What Delta are doing to combat this
Delta has cottoned on to this and has released more information about how they plan to keep their toilets as safe as possible.:
Here are five ways we are keeping lavatories – and the rest of your onboard experience – safe, clean and comfortable on every flight, with even more enhancements to come:
- Hand sanitizer stations are coming to flights soon: Delta will become the first U.S. airline* where customers can find hand sanitizer stations near the boarding door and bathrooms on every Delta aircraft. Depending on the size of the aircraft and the number of customers, each Delta aircraft will have up to five hand sanitizer stations. Installations begin 28 August 2020 with the Boeing 757-200 fleet.
- Flight attendants are wiping down high-touch surfaces in lavatories frequently during each flight: While in the air, flight attendants regularly make sure lavatories are clean, tidy, fully stocked with supplies and ready for customers. Using kits that include disinfectant spray, wipes and gloves, flight attendants ensure the thorough sanitization completed prior to boarding stays fresh.
- Hands-free features already in many lavatories: Bathrooms on Delta’s A350s, A330-900neos, 767-400s and 757-200s already have some hands-free features such as touchless faucets, flush levers and waste lids. Delta are e exploring how we can bring touchless features forward throughout the travel experience.
- Hand-washing reminders will be in each lavatory: Already installed on more than 130 planes, all aircraft bathrooms will soon feature hand-washing reminders.
- Delta will continue to use electrostatic sprayers before every flight, every day: Every interior surface is thoroughly sanitized prior to boarding using electrostatic sprayers. Following this process, cleaning crews complete an extensive checklist of cleaning procedures using this same high-grade disinfectant to wipe down personal and common areas of the cabin – including lavatories. Employees then perform spot checks throughout the aircraft and if it doesn’t meet their high standards before you board, our teams are encouraged to hold the flight to call back the cleaning crew.
