Update using industry data on modeling SARS-CoV-2 exposure reduction
through physically distanced seating patterns and masking in aircraft
cabins
Abstract
Aircraft cabins have high-performance ventilation systems, yet typically
hold large numbers of people in close proximity for long periods. The
current study estimated airborne virus exposure and infection reductions
for vacant middle seats and masking in aircraft. Tracer particle data
reported by U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) and CFD simulations
reported by Boeing were used, along with NIOSH data, to build nonlinear
regression models with particle exposure and distance from particle
source as variables. These models that estimate exposure at given
distances from the viral source were applied to evaluate exposure
reductions when middle seats are vacant compared to full occupancy.
Reductions averaged 54% for the seat row where an infectious passenger
is located and 36% for a 24-row cabin containing one infectious
passenger, with middle seats vacant. Analysis of the TRANSCOM data
showed that universal masking (surgical masks) reduced exposures by 62%
and showed masking and physical distancing provide further reductions
when practiced together. For a notional scenario involving 10 infectious
passengers, compared with no intervention, masking, distancing, and both
would prevent 6.2, 3.8 and 7.6 secondary infections, respectively, using
the Wells-Riley equation. These results suggest distancing and masking
reduce SARS CoV-2 exposure risk when an infectious passenger is present.