I am a medical doctor who recently flew to an important health meeting in Washington DC. It was not a meeting on coronavirus (COVID 19). However, many of us were doctors and we talked constantly about how to prevent infections in our states. Yet flying back, from Dulles Airport in Washington DC to my home airport, I couldn't find a single hand-sanitizer dispenser or sanitizing wipe for passengers. In Washington DC or my home state. In Washington DC, the TSA pre-check person handled each passenger's ID with bare hands. Passengers with  electronic boarding passes had to put their phones down on a scanner to be read. On the United flight, we were offered complementary sandwiches - to eat with our unwashed hands - but no hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes.  Airports and airlines were putting passengers and their employees at risk, instead of protecting them. 

Airports and airlines need to step up now, to reduce our risk of coronavirus transmission. Dulles airport alone has 24 million travelers a year.

1. Airports - install hand-sanitizer dispensers and give out sanitizing wipes at airport at the check-in counter, security screening, and each gate. Require staff to wear gloves and change them regularly. 
2. Airlines - Space flights apart so that every plane can be sanitized in between flights. Not just pick up trash, but to disinfect every seat and pull-down tray.  Offer hand sanitizers and wipes. Give full credit or refunds on all flights canceled through the next 2-3 months so people can cut back on non-urgent travel without getting penalized.

 I have always enjoyed traveling and flying. Let's ask airport and airlines to help us beat coronavirus and keep communities healthy.