NEW DELHI: The World Health Organization (WHO) has long held that the coronavirus is spread primarily by large respiratory droplets that, once expelled by infected people in coughs and sneezes, fall quickly to the floor.
However, many scientists say that the coronavirus is finding new victims worldwide, in bars and restaurants, offices, markets and casinos, giving rise to frightening clusters of infection that increasingly confirm what they have been saying for months: The virus lingers in the air indoors, infecting those nearby.
Is coronavirus airborne?
So far the virus is believed to be transmitted through three ways — large respiratory droplets, direct contact with infected people or contaminated surfaces. Prompting the health organisation to stress on the need for washing hands and following social distancing measures to stop the transmission of the virus.
But in an open letter to the WHO, 239 scientists in 32 countries have outlined the evidence showing that smaller particles can infect people and are calling for the agency to revise its recommendations. They say that there is growing evidence that the virus can spread indoors through aerosols that linger in the air.
Airborne transmission is different from droplet transmission as it refers to the presence of microbes within droplet nuclei, which are generally considered to be particles <5μm in diameter, can remain in the air for long periods of time and be transmitted to others over distances greater than 1 m.
The scientists also said that the virus is infectious even in smaller quantities.
What will happen if coronavirus is airborne?
If the airborne transmission is a significant factor in the pandemic, especially in crowded spaces with poor ventilation, the consequences for containment will be significant. Along with the already prescribed methods — masks, social distancing, washing hands — people will have to introduce a host of new measures to stop the infection.
