August 19, 2020

Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission on an International Flight and Among a Tourist Group

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Transmission

• Monitoring of commercial airline passengers (n=102) on an international flight, 24 of whom were part of a tourist group who came in contact with a hotel manager with COVID-19, identified 2 likely SARS-CoV-2 transmissions on the flight, with 7 index cases, indicating possible airborne transmission. Both passengers with likely onboard acquisition were seated within 2 rows of an index case. The airflow in the cabin from the ceiling to the floor and from the front to the rear may have been associated with a reduced transmission rate, though the authors hypothesize that the rate may have been reduced further had the passengers worn masks on the flight. 

Hoehl et al. (Aug 18, 2020). Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission on an International Flight and Among a Tourist Group. JAMA Network Open. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.18044