When I saw someone with a cold going on the same plane as myself, I could be 100% sure I will get off of the plane with a cold...
So it seems like sensationalising indeed, at least from my anecdotal experience.
Yeah anecdotally I’ve hopped on a couple planes this year where masking is required. Normally my wife and I get sick from the plane. But since we’ve been wearing KN95s the whole time starting when we get to the airport we haven’t been getting sick at all.
Could be that they wouldn't let someone with a visible cold on a plane. It wasn't the case in the past.