Snippets: Mask Mandates on Planes, Keep or Scrap?

Mask Mandates on Planes…

The writer in this article explains which airlines are dropping the mask mandate and those that are continuing this requirement. He asks the question in a sub heading, “Does masking wearing on aircraft work?”, and then mentions HEPA filters and the airlines claim of 99.9% efficiency. So another question, “If so, then why bother with a mask?” No mention so far why anyone should wear a mask but the writer is implying they should and tries to back this up with several medical articles which he gives the links to. However none of these articles specifically mentions the efficacy of mask wearing but concentrate on whether there is transmission of COVID-19 in the airplane cabin. Which we know has been proven to happen as it has in every other enclosed space with or without ventilation. So basically no data in these articles to back up masks stop the spread of COVID-19 in the cabin. He then goes on about bad behaviour in the US where many travellers have disobeyed the mask mandates. How this is relevant to the spread of COVID-19 no one knows as there is no mention whether anyone of those people did spread the virus or were recipients. Anyhow, at the end of the article he sort of comes to the defense of masks saying in a sub heading, “How to minimise the risk”, saying longer flights come with greater risk, meal times masks are off, nodding off masks slip, pick a seat away from galleys and toilets, maybe forego meals and bring your own and eat when everyone else is asleep…

My answer is REALLY?

The writer ends his piece with these comments, “Wearing a mask is a small inconvenience. Like buckling your seatbelt in a car, or covering your mouth when you sneeze, and for exactly the same reasons, wearing a mask keeps you and those around you safe. For anyone who sees mandatory mask wearing as an invasion of their rights, the choice is simple. The message is grow up or stay home.”

The following is a comment to the article.

Do any of the studies mention the possibility anyone coughing, sneezing and splattering mucous and droplets in their masks if they touched them and then touched other surfaces? You know how many surfaces there are in an airplane cabin? Just take the toilets as an example. No amount of masks will help you if you are not constantly aware of what you are doing and disinfecting surfaces. So the message to grow up and stay home if you don’t want to wear a mask does not apply. Sorry but that is science.

This comment was not published by the publication. It obviously hit a raw nerve with the writer or the editor.

A commenter posted this in reply to the article. “Being fully vaccinated minimises the chance of being infected and if you are infected it minimises the level of illness. None of these studies indicate the vaccination status of those aboard the flight and of those who were infected.”

This is the reply that was posted to this comment. Strangely it was published.

None of the vaccines currently are sterilising. You can still die from an infection if you have underlying conditions that weaken you. If you are sick the best deterrent is to stay away from others. That’s why quarantine exists. This applies to influenza as well.

Although making a good point that the studies did not indicate vaccination status this person doesn’t undertsand that being vaccinated does not stop you from dying. Logic is not the strength of many it seems, or many don’t want to follow the science. But I must fault the writer of the article more than the two people who responded with comments.