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How safe is flying during COVID-19?

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Burt Rodrigues CEO of Biodx gives his insight on the traveling/flying now.

“If you check out any airlines’ publicity right now you’d almost feel as though they wrap you in a magic Covid-19 free bubble from the minute you board your flight to the moment you leave. But is this true?

To a certain degree it is, as according to the CDC, ‘Most viruses and other germs don’t spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes.’ And whilst you may have an image of empty seats allowing for the correct social distancing you would be wrong. Virtually every flight in SA right now is flying at full seating capacity, given the facts that a) they’re trying to catch up on lost revenue and b) there are a lot less airlines operating.

Dangerous touchpoints

So what does this mean for you and the risk of contracting the coronavirus? According to Burt Rodrigues, CEO of Biodx, “The CDC is correct in their comments on air circulation and filtering. The filters used by airlines are medical grade with vertical extraction which means the air circulates up and out. But that’s not the danger. You are sitting like sardines in a can, touching shoulder to shoulder, leg to leg and your fingers will touch surfaces. The secret is to carry your own sanitiser, spray the surfaces you touch and remember not to touch your face until you’re off the plane and can safely either sanitise or even better wash your hands with soap and water.”

Keep that mask glued to your face

“Just last week when a man refused to keep his mask on after boarding a FlySafair flight the plane simply turned back to the terminal and he was taken off. Hopefully this now sets a precedent for such behaviour. Keeping your mask on throughout the entire flight is essential at least until we’re at level 0. And eat before you fly as snacking and drinking on board is now taboo. “From the minute you arrive at the airport you have to be super vigilant,” stresses Rodrigues. “There are so many dangerous touch points. Queuing to check in, go through the x-ray machines, maybe grabbing a coffee and then boarding the plane – these are the danger points also. Keep those social distances. In the end the responsibility lies on you – the passenger. Stay safe and travel safe.”


About Biodx

Biodx is on a journey to reduce society’s dependence on synthetic chemicals. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, we’re breaking boundaries, crossing new frontiers, and helping to evolve the future of disinfection. All towards enabling a better world.

With technical support from the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) as well as financial support from TIA (Technology Innovation Agency) and IDC (Industrial Development Corporation), we’ve spent the last 15 years researching and developing cutting edge antimicrobial and antiviral technologies, proven in field trials to be between 8% and 52% more effective than conventional disinfecting chemicals.

Using a natural citrus extract stabilised with an organic biodegradable compound, which contains no chlorine, ethanol or aldehydes. Non-corrosive and earth-friendly, the formulation, rapidly kills 99.999% of many bacteria species and is also effective against viruses.

Substantiated by NRCS and SABS SANS (636, 1853) certified, Biodx offers a revolutionary active ingredient for formulators of sanitisers and disinfectants supplying contract cleaning, healthcare/medical, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, retail, manufacturing and agricultural industries.

Biodx has applied for EU BPR registration and subsequently had products submitted for testing and verification to stringent EU NEN standards in the Netherlands. Biodx products conform to the above standards.

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