LOS ANGELES -- Traveling by airplane can be a scary proposition during this age of coronavirus.
It can involve mingling with large groups of people, touching common surfaces and sitting on a plane with less than six feet of distance between passengers.
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Dr. Anthony Cardillo, an ER specialist and CEO of Mend Urgent Care in Los Angeles, offers some very specific advice for those planning to fly:
Travel need: First, question whether you really need to travel. Is it a legitimate, important need?Packing: Carrying on all your bags is better than checking bags. When you get off the plane, be sure to clean your bag thoroughly, especially the wheels.[Ads /]
What to wear: Have as much of your body covered as possible. A good option is sweat pants with a hooded sweatshirt, along with a mask and even a face shield, in addition to wearing gloves.Avoid surfaces in the airport: Check-in electronically using your phone for the boarding pass so you don't have paper tickets or need to touch surfaces on a kiosk. Try to avoid contact with any other surfaces while in the terminal. It's better to use the bathroom in the airport rather than the one on the plane if possible.Disinfection: When sitting on the plane, use wipes to disinfect the area around you, including the tray, arm rest and head rest. You can also bring a portable UVC device which uses ultraviolet light for sterilization.