Finally, a coherent summary of the rebuttals to that flawed study @AmericanAir and its partners are touting—the one that "supposedly" proves that air travel is safe.

A thread

1/ https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2020-10-29/covid-19-risk-airplanes">https://www.latimes.com/business/...

2/ First, let& #39;s talk about the strengths of this study:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="➡️" title="Pfeil nach rechts" aria-label="Emoji: Pfeil nach rechts"> They measured aerosols, not just droplets
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="➡️" title="Pfeil nach rechts" aria-label="Emoji: Pfeil nach rechts"> They tested both a masked and unmasked "patient"
....

That& #39;s about it

#CovidAirTravel

3/ But here& #39;s why you should take this study with more salt than even airplane food has:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="➡️" title="Pfeil nach rechts" aria-label="Emoji: Pfeil nach rechts"> The "patient" was a mannequin
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="➡️" title="Pfeil nach rechts" aria-label="Emoji: Pfeil nach rechts"> ONLY the patient moved through the cabin
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="➡️" title="Pfeil nach rechts" aria-label="Emoji: Pfeil nach rechts"> Every other "passenger" was assumed to wear masks at all times
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="➡️" title="Pfeil nach rechts" aria-label="Emoji: Pfeil nach rechts"> ... and also to face forward at all times

4/ But wait, there& #39;s more

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="➡️" title="Pfeil nach rechts" aria-label="Emoji: Pfeil nach rechts"> The other passengers didn& #39;t talk to each other
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="➡️" title="Pfeil nach rechts" aria-label="Emoji: Pfeil nach rechts"> There was no meal service
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="➡️" title="Pfeil nach rechts" aria-label="Emoji: Pfeil nach rechts"> Nobody besides the "patient" left their seats

Despite all that, there was STILL a risk of infection...and here& #39;s the key:

5/5 The risk of infection was highest WHEN YOU SAT NEXT TO THE INFECTED PATIENT.

So, basically, this study shows that...despite everything...

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⛔️" title="Nicht betreten" aria-label="Emoji: Nicht betreten">Flying planes full during a pandemic makes people sick. Even an industry-funded own study shows this!

#ItsStillAPandemic #COVID19