Category Archives: Publication

How to stay safe on a flight

by Qin Xie

Published on The Times digital on 9th December 2021

On the face of it, flying seems to contravene every bit of advice around Covid safety. You have 100 or more people in a confined space, and there’s almost no social distancing. So just how safe is it to fly and how do you protect yourself from catching Covid? Here’s what you need to know.

Like any other activity that brings you into contact with other people at close quarters, there’s a risk of catching Covid on flights, particularly when you factor in the journey to the airport and time spent inside the terminal.

While there is no definitive statistic on the likelihood of catching Covid on a flight — as the risk depends on local infection rates and what pre-boarding safety measures, such as testing, are in place — there are multiple incidences where it has happened. For example, in one paper published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, the US Centers for Disease Control’s journal, one or two infected passengers were thought to have infected four others during an 18-hour flight from Dubai to New Zealand, despite all having tested negative for Covid pre-departure.

Read more at The Times digital

Everything I Learned From Launching A Side Hustle During Furlough

by Qin Xie

Published on AllBright on 8th December 2021

Freshly brewed coffee in hand, I slouch into the sofa facing the window, taking a moment to let the steam jostle awake my senses. Outside, wisps of clouds drift across cornflower blue skies – a rare sight for a winter’s day, and on a weekend no less.

Fistfuls of these dreamy Saturday mornings have come and gone in recent months while I’ve been cooped up inside, missed not because of Covid restrictions but rather, because of my side hustle: a reader-funded newsletter.

Money Talk is a smart personal finance newsletter that’s designed to help the reader save money and grow wealth. It’s a project I started eight months ago while in the uniquely vulnerable position of being a newly-appointed travel editor covering a maternity leave who’s just been asked to go on furlough because, well, no one can go on holiday when borders are closed everywhere.

Read more at AllBright

Philips 2000 series 3-in-1 purifier, fan and heater AMF220 review: Did this all-rounder blow us away?

by Qin Xie

Published on The Independent on 6th December 2021

Many of us turn to air purifiers during the summer months, as they can help alleviate allergy symptoms by removing pollen from the air in our homes. And given that they produce a cool breeze as they cleanse the air, they can also double up as a fan in hot weather.

In winter, these devices can be equally helpful, especially for those with asthma, as pollution levels are often higher when it’s cold.

This is because in cooler months, we are more likely to experience incidences of temperature inversion – this is basically when a layer of warm air covers the cooler air below like a blanket. When temperature inversion happens, all the pollutants that would normally get blown away by the wind would become trapped until it rains or snows. This in turn reduces air quality both outside and inside our homes.

Read more at The Independent

8 best kitchen knife sets for every budget and cooking ability, from students to professionals

by Qin Xie

Published on The Independent on 30th November 2021

A kitchen knife set is a great low-hassle way to kit out your kitchen quickly. Not only do all of your knives match, it’s also often more affordable than buying each one individually. But price shouldn’t be the only thing to consider – style, range of knives and sizes all matter.

For every set, you’ll need to start with a decent chef’s knife. Bigger versions are generally more versatile, especially if you’re cooking for a family, but smaller ones might be easier to store and more comfortable to use for those who aren’t as confident in the kitchen.

You’ll also need a smaller utility knife, or paring knife, which can be used for smaller or more delicate cutting tasks, such as slicing up garlic. After that, it becomes a matter of preference.

Read more at The Independent

Will I need a booster jab to travel abroad?

by Qin Xie

Published on The Times digital on 30th November 2021

A growing number of countries are now requiring visitors to show proof of a Covid booster jab as part of their entry requirements. Without one, you may have to pay for additional Covid tests, quarantine or even be barred from entry. Here’s what you need to know.

Whether or not you need a booster jab to travel depends on the destination.

Some countries have already introduced an expiry date on vaccine validity, which can be extended by getting an additional dose of an accepted vaccine. In France, from December 15, over 65s will need to show they’ve had a booster jab to extend their vaccine validity and access the country’s “pass sanitaire”.

Read more at The Times digital