Dr. Fauci: Fully-Booked Aircraft “Is Something Of Concern”
Joe Cortez July 01, 2020
The United States Senate is once again questioning booking flights to capacity amid the COVID-19 virus, but government officials continue to remain neutral on social distancing in aircraft cabins. Speaking to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, America’s two top doctors noted they were “troubled” by the decision to fully book aircraft.
Two of America’s top doctors told the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions they were “concerned” and “disappointed” by airlines booking flights to capacity, but again stopped short of recommending a face mask mandate by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The comments were made during a hearing on Tuesday, June 30, 2020, regarding “Safely Getting Back to Work and Back to School.”
“Obviously, That is Something of Concern”
The question of booking to capacity was raised by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who asked about the importance of social distancing at all times. Singling-out American for their decision to book flights to capacity, Sen. Sanders noted the potential danger of preventing social distancing on aircraft.
“American Airlines announced they were going to fill up all their planes. Other airlines have done the same,” Sen. Sanders said in the hearing. “So you’re going to have people going from New York to California…sitting inches apart from each other. My question is: Why hasn’t the government, whether it’s the [Centers for Disease Control], or the Department of Transportation, issued guidelines prohibiting those violations of what we all know to be common sense?”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health and a prominent member of the president’s Coronavirus task force, noted that the decision was cause for alarm.
“Obviously, that is something of concern,” he responded to the senator’s question. “I’m not sure exactly what went into that decision making. I hope that there would be something to mitigate against that because, I know as we’ve said, and I continue to repeat it: avoiding crowds, staying distant, and when in a situation like that, wear a mask. I think in the confines of an airplane, that becomes even more problematic.”
Sen. Sanders continued to rally for a federal mandate to maintain social distancing on aircraft and other public transportation means. He suggested the president sign an executive order to force operators to maintain distancing as best as possible.
“Doesn’t it sound a little bit silly, and a little bit in violation of everything you guys have been talking about?” Sanders asked the panel. “To have people sitting next to each other for five or six hours in an airplane? Why haven’t we stopped that type of activity and told the airlines…that is unhealthy?”
“I can tell you when they announced that the other day, obviously there was substantial disappointment with American Airlines,” responded Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the CDC. However, he noted that this was not a priority concern.
“I can’t say that this is under critical review by us, the CDC,” Dr. Redfield continued. “We don’t think it’s the right message, as you pointed out. Again, we think it’s really important…whether it’s a bus, a train or a plane, social distancing to the degree that its feasible and at least have a reliable face covering.”
Airline Industry Left to Self-Govern Social Distancing
From the testimony, the doctors made it clear that social distancing will be left to the airline industry to self-govern, and fits with previous testimony on COVID-19 policy. In a previous hearing, the director of the Federal Aviation Administration said the agency would leave face mask policies to the airlines.
The industry is split evenly on how to social distance on aircraft. American Airlines and United Airlines both opened flights to capacity starting today, July 1, 2020, joining low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines. American spokesperson Ross Feinstein commented on Twitter that while the busiest days for the Fort Worth-based carrier were ahead, their busiest day since the COVID-19 pandemic began was June 28.
Busiest day since mid-March for @AmericanAir: June 28. However, the next 14 days are predicted to be even busier than June 28 (other than July 4, which is usually slower). https://t.co/ztuCX89l5Q
— Ross Feinstein (@RossFeinstein) July 1, 2020
Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, and Southwest Airlines will continue blocking middle seats through at least the end of July.
Feature image courtesy: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Darwin said it the best (almost), "Survival of the smartest". Which side are you on if you listen to politicians over scientists and make excuses for airlines packing middle seats during a pandemic when they should have banked money during the fat times and also are getting bailout $$s? Wish you the best!
This virus has the same mortality rate as the common flu for those under the age of 60. Facts, folks. Older people need to be hiding from this... not the entire population. Masks are worthless. Take note of what the lab workers in virology labs wear: full body suits with assisted respirators (the filters are difficult to breathe through unassisted). Anyone that truly believes these will protect yourself or others is a complete fool and doesn't value the science or facts of this matter. If you are worried about getting the virus, don't fly. Pretty simple. If you are over age 60, you shouldn't be flying... and frankly wouldn't be exposing yourself to the public until a vaccine is available. If you are under 60, you are at the same risk as you are with the common flu. Time to get back to normal, folks. Facts don't care about your feelings.
Anyone who truly thinks that a 25 or 50 cent or a dollar face mask or a home made one offers any viral protection in a FULL plane with other passengers siting 6 inches away from you is at the very best misguided or downright ignorant. American and United flying FULL planes and requiring face masks are offering a false sense of security so that they can pack planes for profit, that’s all. These cheap masks do not seal around the face and do not protect the eyes where the virus can attach itself and infect you. In a full plane these masks are really a placebo and may offer a mental soothing effect to some. This virus enters thru the 5 openings in your face, mouth, nostrils, and eyes. That’s why you are told to keep your hands away from your face and wash them for 20 secs, and do not touch the mask. The main form of viral transmission is people unconsciously touching their face, eyes/nose/mouth. That botlle of water or beer you get from the flight attendant probably carries about the same or more infection risk. These cheap face masks may offer some degree of protection in a 50% full plane with passengers spaced at least 1 meter apart with the overhead vents blowing air away from you, sort of an air curtain around you, but offer next to no protection in a packed plane. Especially in a transatlantic or cross country flight with others sleeping and snoring with ill fitting masks. Even the more expensive N95 masks do not form a perfect face seal. Breathing causes a vacuum effect around one’s face during inhalation and the ill fitting/high permeability masks offer minor protection from someone sitting next to you. And if the floating viruses land in your eyes, you are infected, so you better get your ski goggles with you in your next full flight. The only way to avoid the airborne virus is to have a full face mask with a perfect seal around the face. And for men with beards that's impossible. Men who work in jobs where there is the potential of hydrogen sulfide release and/or presence are required to be clean shaven as several hundreds ppm will kill. With this virus several hundreds ppm will surely infect quite a few people in a closed space. Passengers should not be packed in full planes these days. If you must travel in a full plane get a full face NBC gas mask with fresh filters, or better still do not fly in a full plane.
"We now have enough data to know that the initial precautionary efforts, while done in good faith for the most part, are overkill for the majority." What are you talking about? Have you not seen the amazing rise in cases across the South and West - and please tell me you also know that isn't just increased testing, but rising % positive and hospitalizations as well? They opened too fast, and have not bothered to social distance or wear masks - result? Lots of infections., and the EU closing its doors and a scramble to try to control it after it's already exploding. The primary point everyone seems to be missing in this thread is this isn't just about YOUR choices and decisions on risk - if you get infected, you can infect a bunch of other people before you get any symptoms many days later. If we allow activity to go on in a widespread way that allows for gatherings INDOORS without social distancing and masks, we are encouraging continued outbreaks - which will mean more disease and death. It's a hard call with airplanes as they can't profitably move people as they were set up before COVID if they try to social distance on the aircraft. Difficult problem, no easy answer. But this string of people on this thread saying "just make your own decision on level of risk" or entirely disregarding the effect on OTHERS you may then infect when you go grocery shopping back home and bring the virus outbreak from AZ back to NYC again. We do not want to all live in bunkers - we need to get on with our lives while waiting for a hopeful vaccine, but we need to do it in a smart, measured way that takes into account the growing science around COVID - and right now what we ACTUALLY know is that the highest risk activity is being INDOORS with a lot of strangers not wearing masks. That sounds a lot like an airplane to me. The only saving grace could be the supposed HEPA filters that the air constantly recirculates through supposedly? That's what this thread should be discussing.
Fauci needs a first class ticket to Gitmo.