The reason surgical mask does not work is because most surgical masks do not have particulate filter respirators built into them. Even if one can find a mask that has the filter, he or she has to keep changing the masks multiple times inflight since there is a time limit to the respirator.

Anyway, I guess the flight and cabin crew can always report passengers having those suspicious symptoms and have them pull off the plane like they did to those three people on Singapore Airlines en route from JFK to SIN at Frankfurt. But then there is no guarantee since we all breathe through the same recycled air inside a big metal tube for an extended period of time.

Ironically, I will be flying from YVR to SIN to SFO with a stopover in HKG for a 9 day period next week all on CX, I will let you guys know how that all go, or if I will even be allowed back to this country. :-(