Augie RayJan 11, 2023

If you are the kind who says, “You know, I'd mask on flights if WHO or the CDC said I should,” I guess you can now start masking on flights.

WHO urges travellers to wear masks as new #COVID19 variant spreads. #wearamask

https://www.reuters.com/world/whoeurope-backs-travel-checks-us-given-spread-latest-omicron-variant-2023-01-10/

WHO urges travellers to wear masks as new COVID variant spreads

Countries should consider recommending that passengers wear masks on long-haul flights, given the rapid spread of the latest Omicron subvariant of COVID-19 in the United States, World Health Organization (WHO) officials said on Tuesday.

Reuters
Show threadBill SeitzJan 11, 2023
@augieray (it's more important in the airport than on the plane)
Show threadAugie RayJan 11, 2023
@billseitz True! Also, once a plane is in the air, filtering is better and risks are reduced. But since the greatest risk comes during boarding, taxiing, and deplaning, those are also times when masking would be advised. (Makes no sense to mask in the gate area and then take it off while crowding into the plane, waiting in the aisle, and navigating to your seat.)
Show threadA Concerned Scientist

@augieray @billseitz

Yeah I was going to comment on this but saw you were already discussing it. What's the point of saying "Countries should consider recommending that passengers wear masks on long-haul flights" when the most dangerous part isn't the actual in the air part? I mean, I'm glad they're saying something, but why the half-assed policies all the time? How much more simple is "Wear a mask" than "In these situations you might want to calculate your risk and think about wearing a mask."?

Jan 11, 2023 at 3:59pmWeb