LOS ANGELES — How do you keep yourself healthy if you're traveling via airplane in the near future? Keep in mind, it's not only COVID-19 to worry about—there's also the flu.

RELATED | How the Coronavirus Impacts the Human Body

Even though airports are screening people, it's still less than comfortable for some, being strapped into a seat, inside a metallic tube, thousands of feet above ground, in a dry environment where it's easy to dehydrate.

RESOURCE | Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Regarding Travel

The California Department of Public Health says the risk of infection on an airplane is low due to how air circulates and is filtered. But they recommend travelers wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer that contains 60 to 95 percent alcohol.

Viruses like COVID-19 spread via respiratory droplets. They don't travel via air, unless it's super-moist. But time and distance do matter. For example, a six-foot proximity of an infected person for 10 minutes, or longer for the flu, would put you at risk.

The World Health Organization has set the parameters for coronavirus family contact as sitting within two rows of an infected person.

According to a study from Emory University, a good bulk of passengers roam around often during flights. Your best bet to minimize your chance of exposure would be sitting at a window. This study was limited to short-haul flights with single aisles.