While the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends staying home as much as possible, sometimes situations require you to travel, such as a work trip or a family emergency. Flying during a worldwide pandemic can feel scary; after all, most of us have never seen anything quite like the spread of COVID-19 in our lifetime. But if you must fly, the aviation lawyers at Pope & Howard in Atlanta, GA, are sharing their safety tips to help put you at ease. Follow the precautions outlined in this article to remain safe and sound during your journey.
The CDC advises wearing cloth face coverings in public places where it’s difficult to enact social distancing measures, like airports and airplanes. While it’s not an official N-95 mask, a homemade cloth face covering can still help slow the spread of the virus if worn properly.
The covering should:
However, do not place cloth face coverings on young children under two years old, as they may struggle to breathe.
Frequently wash your hands with soap and water, especially after touchpoints like going through security. You should also wash your hands immediately after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. Thoroughly clean your hands for at least 20 seconds. To prevent counting too fast, try singing “Happy Birthday” in your head twice.
If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer consisting of at least 60 percent alcohol. You can buy a travel-sized bottle to keep in your carry-on bag. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
Refrain from touching your eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible. If you cough or sneeze, do so into your elbow or a tissue. Then throw away the tissue and wash your hands as directed above.
At the airport, stay six feet apart from others whenever possible. Once you’ve boarded the plane, though, your ability to maintain a safe distance depends on the number of people on board the flight.
Some airlines are implementing temporary policies to help, such as leaving middle seats unoccupied or allowing passengers to re-book or receive a travel credit if they end up on fuller flights. If you haven’t booked your flight yet, you should research potential airlines to learn how they are promoting social distancing.
Especially if you’re traveling to a heavily affected area, you should monitor yourself for symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing for 14 days once you come home. During this time, try to quarantine yourself as much as possible since transmission is possible before developing symptoms.
Our Atlanta-based law firm handles aviation cases throughout the state of Georgia. If you or a loved one have been in an aviation accident, contact Pope & Howard today to schedule a free consultation.