While he welcomed some industry findings as "encouraging", Freedman said a key assertion about the improbability of catching Covid-19 on planes was based on "bad math". Airlines and planemakers are anxious to restart international travel, even as a second wave of infections and restrictions take hold in many countries. The 8 October media presentation listed in-flight infections reported in scientific studies or by IATA airlines, and compared the tally with total passenger journeys this year. IATA said its findings "align with the low numbers reported in a recently published peer-reviewed study by Freedman and Wilder-Smith". "Long flights ... can provide conditions for superspreader events," the study said, adding that its findings "challenge" the airlines' assertion that on-board distancing is unnecessary.

Source: News 24 October 20, 2020 05:03 UTC