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  • The coronavirus outbreak has many people canceling flights and avoiding large crowds.
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  • I took a JetBlue flight from New York to Florida just one day after one of the airline's passenger's tested positive for the coronavirus on a similar route.
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  • The airport was more crowded than I expected and many people were wearing masks and gloves to avoid infection.
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  • Though I do not recommend flying during this time, I was surprised to find the hyper-preparedness of the passengers around me comforting. Here was my experience:
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It's not an ideal time to be getting on an airplane.

As the coronavirus spreads across the US, more people are distancing themselves from large crowds and enclosed spaces to avoid the spread of the virus, which has infected more than than 1,700 people in the US and has killed more than 40.

I had a JetBlue flight booked from New York to Florida before the virus panic had reached its fever pitch. I considered canceling the flight, especially when I discovered that I would be flying just one day after one of the airline's passengers tested positive for the coronavirus on a similar route.

I decided to take my flight anyway and make sure I was as prepared as possible. Though face masks are not as effective a prevention measure as other actions like hand washing, my sister and I brought some along just in case - and so did about half of the people on our flight, which turned out to be mostly full, much to my surprise.

As the coronavirus situation worsens, I do not recommend flying during this time. However, my experience on the JetBlue flight was overall positive and stress-free. I was surprised to find the hyper-preparedness of the passengers around me comforting as opposed to nerve-wracking. The calm demeanor of the flight crew was also a big part of why the flight was so relaxed.

Here was my experience:

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