Poor air passenger knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and behaviour undermines strategies aimed at preventing the import of SARS-CoV-2 into the UK
Abstract Air travel mediates transboundary movement of SARS-CoV-2. To prepare for future pandemics, we sought to understand air passenger behaviour and perceived risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study of UK adults (n = 2103) quantified knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms, perceived health risk of...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30654-4 |
| _version_ | 1797865039594520576 |
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| author | David. L. Jones Jennifer M. Rhymes Emma Green Charlotte Rimmer Jessica L. Kevill Shelagh K. Malham Andrew J. Weightman Kata Farkas |
| author_facet | David. L. Jones Jennifer M. Rhymes Emma Green Charlotte Rimmer Jessica L. Kevill Shelagh K. Malham Andrew J. Weightman Kata Farkas |
| author_sort | David. L. Jones |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Air travel mediates transboundary movement of SARS-CoV-2. To prepare for future pandemics, we sought to understand air passenger behaviour and perceived risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study of UK adults (n = 2103) quantified knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms, perceived health risk of contracting COVID-19, likelihood of returning to the UK with COVID-19 symptoms, likelihood to obey self-quarantining guidelines, how safe air travellers felt when flying during the pandemic (n = 305), and perceptions towards face covering effectiveness.Overall knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms was poor. Men and younger age groups (18–44) were less informed than women and older age groups (44 +). A significant proportion (21%) of the population would likely travel back to the UK whilst displaying COVID-19 symptoms with many expressing that they would not fully comply with self-isolation guidelines. Overall, males and younger age groups had a reduced perceived personal risk from contracting COVID-19, posing a higher risk of transporting SARS-CoV-2 back to the UK. Poor passenger knowledge and behaviour undermines government guidelines and policies aimed at preventing SARS-CoV-2 entry into the UK. This supports the need for stricter, clearer and more targeted guidelines with point-of-departure viral testing and stricter quarantining upon arrival. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:01:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-43a9891e14fc432ea2c26e81ec4c7b59 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:01:36Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-43a9891e14fc432ea2c26e81ec4c7b592023-03-22T10:56:47ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-03-0113111210.1038/s41598-023-30654-4Poor air passenger knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and behaviour undermines strategies aimed at preventing the import of SARS-CoV-2 into the UKDavid. L. Jones0Jennifer M. Rhymes1Emma Green2Charlotte Rimmer3Jessica L. Kevill4Shelagh K. Malham5Andrew J. Weightman6Kata Farkas7Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor UniversityCentre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor UniversityCentre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor UniversityCentre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor UniversityCentre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor UniversitySchool of Ocean Sciences, Bangor UniversityMicrobiomes, Microbes and Informatics Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff UniversityCentre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor UniversityAbstract Air travel mediates transboundary movement of SARS-CoV-2. To prepare for future pandemics, we sought to understand air passenger behaviour and perceived risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study of UK adults (n = 2103) quantified knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms, perceived health risk of contracting COVID-19, likelihood of returning to the UK with COVID-19 symptoms, likelihood to obey self-quarantining guidelines, how safe air travellers felt when flying during the pandemic (n = 305), and perceptions towards face covering effectiveness.Overall knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms was poor. Men and younger age groups (18–44) were less informed than women and older age groups (44 +). A significant proportion (21%) of the population would likely travel back to the UK whilst displaying COVID-19 symptoms with many expressing that they would not fully comply with self-isolation guidelines. Overall, males and younger age groups had a reduced perceived personal risk from contracting COVID-19, posing a higher risk of transporting SARS-CoV-2 back to the UK. Poor passenger knowledge and behaviour undermines government guidelines and policies aimed at preventing SARS-CoV-2 entry into the UK. This supports the need for stricter, clearer and more targeted guidelines with point-of-departure viral testing and stricter quarantining upon arrival.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30654-4 |
| spellingShingle | David. L. Jones Jennifer M. Rhymes Emma Green Charlotte Rimmer Jessica L. Kevill Shelagh K. Malham Andrew J. Weightman Kata Farkas Poor air passenger knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and behaviour undermines strategies aimed at preventing the import of SARS-CoV-2 into the UK Scientific Reports |
| title | Poor air passenger knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and behaviour undermines strategies aimed at preventing the import of SARS-CoV-2 into the UK |
| title_full | Poor air passenger knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and behaviour undermines strategies aimed at preventing the import of SARS-CoV-2 into the UK |
| title_fullStr | Poor air passenger knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and behaviour undermines strategies aimed at preventing the import of SARS-CoV-2 into the UK |
| title_full_unstemmed | Poor air passenger knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and behaviour undermines strategies aimed at preventing the import of SARS-CoV-2 into the UK |
| title_short | Poor air passenger knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and behaviour undermines strategies aimed at preventing the import of SARS-CoV-2 into the UK |
| title_sort | poor air passenger knowledge of covid 19 symptoms and behaviour undermines strategies aimed at preventing the import of sars cov 2 into the uk |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30654-4 |
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