Originally Posted by
Loose rivets
And probably didn't help you at all.
An N95 with proper use, with eye protection, and with proper hand de-sanitising, and sterile technique helps the wearer reduce likilhood of contracting the virus. The transfer from surface to hand to face is the most problematic action to intervene with, and to that extent, even a surgical mask acts at least as a reminder to be very careful where you put your hands. Being isolated from potential carriers and limiting contact to surfaces is the most effective manner to avoid transmission.
We have entered a new period of awareness, and the Malindo crews (2 B737s) now having holidays in isolation in China as one pax in each return to PRC had a temperature is the new near term norm. Of course, the passengers are also in isolation, so when you next board an A380, even though symptoms apparently (to be confirmed) post date being contagious, any one of your compatriots may result in you needing lots of good Michener books to read for a while. And that is a good outcome, worse is you may become a statistic thereafter. Not being alarmist, until the airlines have appropriate protocols in place, any travel has the potential to go pear shaped. On your A380 with 549 other SLF, what is the likelihood of someone having a temp on arrival post a 14 hr flight? Suspect it isn't zero.
Current case growth is still sitting around 48% per day, and the reported fatality rate appears low on first look, however, that is when comparing current confirmed cases against fatalities. Compared to previous virus pandemics, that appears quite low, but that is also an aberration from the immediate viewpoint. Past outbreaks are effectively concluded, and total fatalities are compared with total confirmed cases. At present, the figures being considered are of todays confirmed cases, not those of a week ago, so there is around a 4 times higher true fatality rate underlying the problem at this time. That is close to the SARS mortality rate. Approximately 1 in 5 confirmed cases ends up with ICU requirements, and somewhere just under 50% of those cases ends badly at present. These are sobering values, and suggest that taking care in travel is important, care in personal hygiene is necessary, and those that have potentially compromised lung function or immunity need to be very careful.
(stats for the above can be found on the JHU website)