How to avoid coronavirus on flights: Forget masks, says top airline doctor

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, according to a medical adviser to the world's airlines. - EPA-EFE

SINGAPORE (Bloomberg): Forget face masks and rubber gloves. The best way to avoid the coronavirus is frequent hand washing, according to a medical adviser to the world's airlines.

The virus cannot survive long on seats or armrests, so physical contact with another person carries the greatest risk of infection on a flight, said Dr David Powell, a physician and medical adviser to the International Air Transport Association (Iata). Masks and gloves do a better job of spreading bugs than stopping them, he said.