China Flight Attendants Advised To Wear Diapers For Covid-19 Safety

As Covid-19 continues to sweep across the world, it seems that flight attendants in China may be required to wear diapers as prevention on board when they travel to high-risk areas.

On November 25th, the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued some unusual advice for flight attendants looking for ways to avoid contracting coronavirus while working. It suggested they wear diapers to reduce their need to use airplane lavatories.

The document, titled Technical Guidelines for Epidemic Prevention and Control for Airlines, Sixth Edition, contains advice about the best hygiene practices to carry out on aircraft and in airports.

The section regarding personal protective equipment, advises cabin crew on flights to and from high-risk countries to wear “medical masks, double-layer disposable medical gloves, goggles, disposable hats, disposable protective clothing, and disposable shoe covers.”

“It is recommended that cabin crew members wear disposable diapers and avoid using the lavatories barring special circumstances to avoid infection risks,” the manual says

It is not yet fully understood how great an infection risk that fomites – genetic material found on surfaces like tray tables and lavatory toilet seats and sinks – pose to passengers and crew.

Now that’s definitely a new one on most of us who have taken numerous precautions over the last nine months to help mitigate the virus.

A Vietnamese study that examined an outbreak of 15 cases among Vietnam Airlines cabin crew and passengers on a March flight from London to Hanoi noted that 12 passengers from the business class were infected, along with one flight attendant who was working the economy cabin

According to the authors, Airline crew often use business class toilets while onboard, which might explain the case among the crew serving in economy class, for whom no other potential source of infection could be established.

The aviation industry is aware and on the job. Boeing has already designed a prototype lavatory that uses ultraviolet light to sanitize surfaces in under three seconds.

The lavatory also incorporates hands-free soap dispensers, dryers, and trash flap. Japanese airline ANA has also developed a prototype lavatory that has a hands-free door.

But it could be a while before these design changes are tested, approved, and rolled out. Till then, a diaper may be a smart idea for your next long-haul trip. Whether the Chinese flight attendants follow through with the suggestion, for now, it’s just a guideline, not a mandate.