Frequent fliers take precautions against coronavirus – Naomi Campbell was way ahead of them with her viral in-flight hygiene regime
- Supermodel has a routine for flights, whether private or commercial. It starts with using disinfectant wipes on her seat and anything she’s likely to touch
- A medical adviser to airlines might not approve, but Campbell is never without a face mask wherever she flies, as shown in a video she posted online
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, many frequent travellers in Asia have reduced their journeys. For those still going ahead with long-haul flights to Europe or the United States, staying healthy is paramount. Aeroplanes are a notoriously ripe environment for the spread of germs, due to poor air circulation and the number of people often squeezed like sardines in tight environments.
Flight crews from airlines such as Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific and Hawaiian Airlines have reportedly been allowed to wear surgical masks during flights, and passengers have upgraded their in-flight kits to include cleaning products and masks.
The virus can’t survive long on seats or armrests, so physical contact with another person carries the greatest risk of infection on a flight, said David Powell, a doctor and medical adviser to the International Air Transport Association.
Masks and gloves do a better job of spreading bugs than stopping them, he said.