No mask requirement: How can I protect myself from Corona when flying?
Created: 09/29/2022, 09:00
By: Franziska Kaindl
Masks are no longer compulsory on airplanes on October 1st.
How can I protect myself from the coronavirus?
In the last two years, the face mask has been a constant companion in German airlines.
In contrast to many other countries or other airlines, masks are compulsory on planes in Germany - although the aviation safety agency EASA and the EU health authority ECDC already lifted their recommendation for this in May of this year.
Under pressure from the FDP, this is now to be adjusted: With the new Infection Protection Act, which comes into force on October 1, the mask requirement on board will also come to an end in German airlines.
A woman sits on a plane wearing a face mask and looks at her smartphone.
© Matej Kastelic/Imago
A third of flight passengers want to continue wearing masks: how much does it bring?
While many passengers should be happy to be able to breathe deeply again on airplanes, there are also others who fear an increasing risk of infection from the corona virus when flying.
According to a survey by the market research institute YouGov, 35 percent of those surveyed consider it likely that they will still voluntarily wear a face mask on board after October 1st.
But how much does it actually do to wear a mask and how high is the risk of infection on the plane?
The aerosol physicist Gerhard Scheuch gave
Spiegel
a few answers.
His assessment: "Anyone who is anxious and wants to protect themselves really well is well advised to wear a mask." According to the standard, an FFP2 mask must be able to filter 94 percent and FFP3 masks 99 percent of aerosols.
But even surgical masks "protect quite well, they usually hold back between 70 and 90 percent," says Scheuch.
It is important that the different types of masks fit really tightly - otherwise it is as if you were not wearing a face mask at all.
It is best to wear a mask when boarding and disembarking
If you do not want to wear the mask for the entire duration of the flight - especially if it is a long-haul flight - the expert gives you the following information: "It is particularly important when boarding and in the time before take-off and after to wear the mask when landing.” The CO₂ concentration and thus the aerosol exposure would increase when the aircraft is on the ground.
In the air, however, it would decrease and remain constantly low.
This is because the machine is better ventilated during flight.
In addition, the air on airplanes flows from top to bottom and not sideways - so it does not travel from person to person.
Does a minimum distance still make sense when flying?
When waiting for boarding or getting on and off the plane, there is often a dense crowd between the passengers.
During the pandemic, a distance requirement of 1.5 meters was recommended in Germany - but according to Scheuch, this is only of limited use.
"The discussion about the distance came up when it was still thought that this transmission took place through droplet infection.
That means by coughing and sneezing.” However, since the infection mainly occurs via aerosols, keeping your distance is not necessarily the guarantee of success to protect yourself from the corona virus.
The decisive factor is not the distance to another person, but the duration of contact.
“If you stand very close and for a very long time with someone, then the risk of infection is great.
Very long means several minutes.
