Fly Well. New QF Covid procedures

[p--and--t]

Going well off topic, but a shameful NSW example

The little girl Australia shunned — remembering Eve van Grafhorst

Eve van Grafhorst was almost three when she was diagnosed with HIV in 1985. Then she was banned from childcare, and eventually her family was hounded to New Zealand where they started a new life.

www.abc.net.au

 

[PineappleSkip]

IATA and ACI put out a press release on the subject of restarting aviation yesterday.
ACI and IATA Outline Roadmap for Aviation Industry Restart

The paper itself is fairly brief and linked to at the end of the press release. All fairly consistent with the QF proposed approach (having regard to the relatively low transmission risk in Australia)

This is what the paper says about social distancing generally

According to the local rules and regulations, as deemed necessary and in conjunction with the local airport authority, if social/physical distancing
measures are considered, these should be:
- Consistent with what is applied for other transport modes – in particular urban public transport used for access to/from airports,
- As deemed necessary across the passenger flow ensuring consistency with what is applied for other transport modes – in particular urban public transport used for access to/from airports.
- Limited to the initial restart phase, as they are incompatible with the restoration and development of air connectivity over-time given their limiting factor on airport capacity and aircraft capacity.

It also makes these comments about seating inflight

Based on information we have analyzed, the risk of transmission of COVID-19 from one passenger to another passenger on board is very low. Possible
reasons are that customers sit facing forward and not toward each other, seat backs provide a barrier, the use of HEPA filters and the direction of the air flow on board (from ceiling to floor), and the limited movement onboard aircraft once seated add to the onboard protection. As an added protection against possible in-flight transmission, IATA recommends the use of face coverings by travelers in situations where physical distancing cannot be maintained, including in flight. In this
regard, it should not be assumed that physical distancing on board (e.g. through blocked seats) would be necessary.

Cheers skip

 

[p--and--t]

IATA and ACI put out a press release on the subject of restarting aviation yesterday.
ACI and IATA Outline Roadmap for Aviation Industry Restart

The paper itself is fairly brief and linked to at the end of the press release. All fairly consistent with the QF proposed approach (having regard to the relatively low transmission risk in Australia)

This is what the paper says about social distancing generally

Based on information we have analyzed, the risk of transmission of COVID-19 from one passenger to another passenger on board is very low. Possible
reasons are that customers sit facing forward and not toward each other, seat backs provide a barrier, the use of HEPA filters and the direction of the air flow on board (from ceiling to floor), and the limited movement onboard aircraft once seated add to the onboard protection. As an added protection against possible in-flight transmission, IATA recommends the use of face coverings by travelers in situations where physical distancing cannot be maintained, including in flight. In this
regard, it should not be assumed that physical distancing on board (e.g. through blocked seats) would be necessary.

It also makes these comments about seating inflight

Cheers skip

That's sounds almost word for word (my bolding) what AJ said as the plan for QF during the TV interview I saw (and he was criticised for).

 

[PineappleSkip]

Yes, he appeared to be reading out of the IATA playbook!

 

[jakeseven7]

OK great, now we just wait in anticipation for the states to lift restrictions..... tick tock tick tock

 

[drron]

Going well off topic, but a shameful NSW example

The little girl Australia shunned — remembering Eve van Grafhorst

Eve van Grafhorst was almost three when she was diagnosed with HIV in 1985. Then she was banned from childcare, and eventually her family was hounded to New Zealand where they started a new life.

www.abc.net.au

I remember that well.Absolutely shocking was the treatment of that brave little girl whose crime was having a blood transfusion.

 

[Simo]

Lounges will be interesting and also I am guessing the quick turn around times will be harder due to extra cleaning required... Pre Covid-19 no cleaning happened on turn around flights or very little anyway... MKY generally turned around in under 30 minutes give or take a few minutes...

 

[Mrsfefe]

I am all for safety measures, however masks are not recommended by health dept for healthy people, so I won't be wearing one on board, I disagree with methods that are just "feel good" token measures.

There’s the problem. How do you know you are “ healthy”? How do you know you are not at that moment a presymptomatic or asymptomatic spreader. You could be the problem. Once you BREAK social distancing anything you can do to stop an infected person from depositing virus into your airways or eyes is worthwhile. Have you seen the masks/ shields/ barriers used by healthcare workers when treating known virus patients? It’s not to stop the healthcare worker from spreading the virus, it stops them catching it.

 

[Mrsfefe]

For those who are afraid to fly without social distancing and mandatory masks, the best solution is - don’t. Stay home. Those of us rational people who are prepared to accept the minuscule chance of catching a virus can get on with life and see if we can save what is left of our economy.

Except when your minuscule risk turns into reality, and you are unlucky enough to get very sick and have to go to hospital, it won’t be just you taking the risk. You have then signed up all the healthcare workers who will look after you to your risk as well. And around the world, there are now hundreds and hundreds of healthcare workers who have died for doing their job. So there is no one getting out of this without lots of pain. And the very real mental health suffering of the newly unemployed will be matched in spades by the PTSD of health care workers once this is all over.

 

[drron]

There’s the problem. How do you know you are “ healthy”? How do you know you are not at that moment a presymptomatic or asymptomatic spreader. You could be the problem. Once you BREAK social distancing anything you can do to stop an infected person from depositing virus into your airways or eyes is worthwhile. Have you seen the masks/ shields/ barriers used by healthcare workers when treating known virus patients? It’s not to stop the healthcare worker from spreading the virus, it stops them catching it.

And we change them after every patient.You will have to have a large supply for an OS flight.

 

[p--and--t]

And we change them after every patient.

In a different context, because we are not in a medical appointment, but I seem to recall that they are only good for around 3 hrs anyway due to moisture buildup and makes it too hard to breathe.

If that was the case for most domestic sectors one would sort of make do. But thinking about Europe would be looking at changing 5 times or so during the flight unless the dryness of the air in flight extends the usable life of them in the air?

On a multi-sector, multi-week holiday, would be needing to take a box of them.

 

[drron]

Depends on how many people with a virus were on your plane.If no one had a virus you wouldn't need a mask.If there were 10 positives on the plane you would hope they were the 10 wearing a mask.

 

[Pushka]

And we change them after every patient.You will have to have a large supply for an OS flight.

The 95 masks say they can be worn for 8 hours so unless you'd take them off to eat or drink or otherwise contaminate them, that would cut back the need for multiple masks on OS flights.

 

[flyingfan]

Depends on how many people with a virus were on your plane.If no one had a virus you wouldn't need a mask.If there were 10 positives on the plane you would hope they were the 10 wearing a mask.

The positives and positive-asymptomatics are the million dollar question aren't they? drron I'm interested in your medical view of whether and how QF and other airlines should screen pax at the airport. Should they use temperature screening and deny boarding to the febrile as one measure?

 

[Princess Fiona]

The 95 masks say they can be worn for 8 hours so unless you'd take them off to eat or drink or otherwise contaminate them, that would cut back the need for multiple masks on OS flights.

I don’t know if you have ever tried to wear an N95 mask for 8 hours but they are extremely uncomfortable. 4 hours is just about tolerable but even then you can get rashes and pressure areas on your nose.
I’m not sure why anyone would need to wear one on a flight ?
At work we use them for Airborne Precautions (Primarily Aerosol generating procedures in infectious patients).
The ones we use must be fluid resistant. A lot of the ones at Bunnings etc are for dry aerosols.

It’s actually really important to be trained in the use of N95 masks. It’s pretty easy to contaminate yourself taking one off.

For general patient contact we use surgical masks. These are reasonably comfortable and easy to wear for a long period of time.

 

[Pushka]

I don’t know if you have ever tried to wear an N95 mask for 8 hours but they are extremely uncomfortable. 4 hours is just about tolerable but even then you can get rashes and pressure areas on your nose.
I’m not sure why anyone would need to wear one on a flight ?
At work we use them for Airborne Precautions (Primarily Aerosol generating procedures in infectious patients).
The ones we use must be fluid resistant. A lot of the ones at Bunnings etc are for dry aerosols.

It’s actually really important to be trained in the use of N95 masks. It’s pretty easy to contaminate yourself taking one off.

For general patient contact we use surgical masks. These are reasonably comfortable and easy to wear for a long period of time.

I haven't but my son has to wear one during the day for particular parts of his job. Agree re the correct usage of them, my SIL has worked in the infectious diseases area of one of our public hospitals and will likely give a training session. In reality if travelling on an overseas flight for any length of time I'd prefer a bit of discomfort. But likely that's not going to happen for a long time anyway.

 

[CMA222]

Emirates new procedures

Emirates

Masks for all
No hand luggage
Arrive at the airport 4 hours before departure

 

[defurax]

Doesn't this bring back the issue of laptop computers and lithium batteries in the cargo hold?

 

[p--and--t]

Emirates new procedures

Emirates

Masks for all
No hand luggage
Arrive at the airport 4 hours before departure

Strange because there was an announcement a couple days ago they had abandoned testing (other than thermal) before flights.

Additionally, how does a passenger control social distancing "throughout the flight". Seating is controlled by the airline. If using the aisle, the "distancing" can't be more than 600mm for the aisle passenger. Really window dressing.

Interesting to note they won't be supplying masks ("bring your own masks and gloves") when QF and UA and others have already announced every passenger will get one gratis on boarding and additional available for free onboard.

 

[Happy Trails]

Doesn't this bring back the issue of laptop computers and lithium batteries in the cargo hold?

Travel updates | Help | Emirates Thailand

Find out about the latest travel updates and any flight changes or cancellations. We update this page regularly with the most recent travel updates.

www.emirates.com

What are the items allowed in the cabin?

Cabin baggage will not be accepted on these flights. Items allowed will be limited to laptop, handbag, briefcase or baby items; any other items will have to be checked in.