Even before the coronavirus outbreak, I regularly warned you about the many health risks of flying on commercial airplanes.
First and foremost, there’s no question that air travel promotes the creation of “pandemics.” After all, it helps to spread contagious, infectious diseases around the globe. And we know the coronavirus pandemic spread this way, as the Chinese Communist Party knowingly allowed infected people to fly all around the world.
Second, air travel also promotes “person-to-person” transmission of infectious diseases, as you must sit in close proximity to someone who’s potentially infected…for hours on end.
Of course, the airlines will tell you not to worry. They’ll tell you they’re following public health recommendations to screen passengers, enforce mask compliance, and space out seating. And, yes, there are five airlines still keeping the middle seats open routinely: Delta, JetBlue, Hawaiian, Alaskan, and Southwest.
The airlines also like to tout their high-powered air filtration systems. But Dr. Qing Yan Chen, professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University, still has major concerns about the ability of these system to filter out coronavirus. And I always listen closely to what the engineers have to say because they often make a lot more sense than the pronouncements of political-science, public health experts.
In an interview, Dr. Chen stated, “Whenever you cough, talk or breathe, you’re sending out droplets…These droplets are in the cabin all the time.” In other words, infected people on an airplane send viral particles into the air at a faster rate than the filtration systems can flush them out of the cabin. And the anecdotal evidence seems to support this theory…
Indeed, early in the pandemic, on a flight from London to Hanoi, one infected passenger ended up infecting 14 people. Since then, scientists have identified several clusters of infection related to air travel. (Plus, even aside from coronavirus, the recirculated air on most commercial airplanes is teeming with harmful toxins.)
Now, let’s move onto the third major reason why I encourage you to avoid air travel whenever you can…
Transmission risk at other points of contact
Not only do you increase your risk of contracting coronavirus inside the actual plane, but you also increase it at many other points during your travels. Such as during your ground travel to the airport…when you encounter the horrendous masses of people inside the airport…when you interact with agents to hand over required documents and submit to temperature checks…when you wait at the gate…and maybe even when you use the dirty, public restroom. Then, on your return trip, you must repeat the process.
In the end, I recommend avoiding air travel entirely…if you can. Instead, try relying on your own automobile to get around the country. It will help you eliminate a lot of the unnecessary exposure. (Just be extra vigilant at gas stations—one of the most contaminated places on the planet.)
In addition to avoiding air travel this fall and winter—and during the holidays especially—I also suggest travelling only to less-crowded areas of the country, where the sun shines brighter. Remember, as I reported earlier this year, ultraviolet (UV) light kills earlier versions of the coronavirus. And, according to the National Academy of Sciences, it “probably” even kills the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)! All the more reason to spend as much time as you can out in Nature, soaking up the sun.
Of course, there are many more practical steps you can take to support your overall immunity during the ongoing pandemic—including supplementing daily with 10,000 IU of vitamin D. You can learn more about my top immune health recommendations in my Pandemic Protection Playbook: How to become “immune ready” in every season. To gain access this essential guide, click here now!
Sources:
“What is the risk of catching the coronavirus on a plane.” Medscape, 9/10/20. (medscape.com/viewarticle/937174)
“Does ultraviolet light kill the coronavirus?” The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, accessed 5/6/20. (sites.nationalacademies.org/BasedOnScience/covid-19-does-ultraviolet-light-kill-the-coronavirus/index.htm)