Some tips for flying with looming Coronavirus threat.

Travelling out of China has proven to be very difficult for foreign nationals who are either working and living there, or visitors who have been caught in a series of unfortunate events. As announced today, top officials of Wuhan have been fired and disciplined over their handling of the Coronavirus.

The number of cases has begun to tail off but still increasing.

It currently stands at 45,057 confirmed cases, and 1,115 deaths.

As a person living in China, it has been my prerogative to leave the country as soon as possible knowing that travelling on a commercial airline remains a dangerous endeavour. There are several reasons as follows :

1. The virus is capable of remaining active while in the air, meaning that it is airborne and can stay alive for many hours.

2. The virus can stay active on surfaces for many days.

3. An incubation period of now over 24 days means that there are people who are unknowingly carrying the virus who are capable of passing it to others despite showing zero symptoms of being ill.

What are some of the recommendations if travelling on a plane is absolutely necessary?

1. Wear a mask at all times. This has a double preventative measure, in that you reduce the likelihood of breathing in the virus from the air. You prevent transmitting the virus through the air if you are an unknowing carrier.

2. Disinfect regularly after touching anything with your skin. Use alcohol.

3. Wear goggles. Since the virus can enter the body through your eyes, wearing goggles reduces that chance significantly. Swimming ones are uncomfortable but work just fine.

4. Do not eat or drink. This exposes you to airborne viruses because you will have to partially remove your mask.

5. Do not use the toilet. The toilet is where you will most likely get the virus because it is a concentrated area of the plane that many passengers will use.

6. Sit as far away from anyone else as possible. If you are able to, sit on different sections of each row.