I’m baffled by the amount of airplane risk freak out I’m seeing about this single study, which you will see below, is far far from conclusive plus has an unmasked, actively coughing person as suspect. Always read the full paper and the appendix, and think about the denominator.https://twitter.com/j_g_allen/status/1307283792776826881 …
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The paper rests on shaky assumptions and it's pushing the envelope to claim potential transmission on a flight. Okay. Let's suspend disbelief say it happened. Many millions fly every *week*. One pre-masking March incident? Reassuring in context. Headline: wow, surprisingly safe.
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Obviously, there is no place that's absolutely, completely safe from COVID if there are people around, but in reality, the lack of outbreaks in airplanes is quite striking, and quite likely linked to the fact that they aggressively and rapidly filter the air with HEPA filters.
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zeynep tufekci Retweeted Joseph Allen
Also, this is a pity. If we had genomic sequencing, we'd have a clear-cut answer. Given the importance of these questions, there really needs to be more resources for such case studies.https://twitter.com/j_g_allen/status/1307283825043660800 …
zeynep tufekci added,
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Everyone should—obviously—consider their own personal risk factors and if they should travel as risk is never zero. Taking a cab to the airport is always risky! However instead of alarm based on single studies, we need careful consideration of nine months of data & observations.
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Media continues to fail COVID reporting hard. *Of course* it can spread anywhere. The most important question is the *denominator*, protections and relative risk. Two incidents from March with unmasked, coughing passengers. If that were all, that would be immensely reassuring.pic.twitter.com/QiKVtZcMo2
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For flying, the real questions: Why are there almost zero outbreaks, so strikingly low that the cab ride to the airport is many times more dangerous *if* the number is true. Is it because we're not tracing enough? Is it because of masks plus aggressive air filtering on planes?
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Come on. It's September. Reporting like that—single studies without any critical examination of the studies themselves, considerations of context, preponderance of evidence and an attempt at systematic assessment of relative risk—should just be automatically rejected by editors.
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To get our lives back, we need trustworthy, cumulative data to be reviewed by trustworthy, independent authorities. We need media that informs us rather than this kind of sensationalist stupidity. This is all so ridiculous and tragic at the same time, given the stakes.

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zeynep tufekci Retweeted Laurie Garrett
The bus—study has been out for months—and airplanes have *completely different* air filtering & circulation regimes so aren't comparable. While I'd like more data, the article says despite 11,000 exposures they couldn't find and confirm a single exposure.https://twitter.com/Laurie_Garrett/status/1307691503406415873 …
zeynep tufekci added,
Laurie GarrettVerified account @Laurie_GarrettIt's hard to see how the airline industry bounces out of this. Last week's Chinese bus#COVID19 study proved recirculated air spreads the virus. Now, the@CDCgov says some 11,000 people have been exposed to the#coronavirus on flights. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/nearly-11000-people-have-been-exposed-to-the-coronavirus-on-flights-the-cdc-says/2020/09/19/d609adbc-ed27-11ea-99a1-71343d03bc29_story.html … via@GoogleNews9 replies 23 retweets 103 likesShow this thread
*single infection.
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Replying to @zeynep
Help me with something... Singing with masks in church...ok? Or no?
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