Coronavirus spreads even when breathing and talking, found Chinese scientists. It is unknown how viable viral particles remaining in microcaps in the air, but researchers recommend to avoid crowded places and poorly ventilated spaces.
Coronavirus can spread through secretions of the microdroplets formed during talking and breath, warn Chinese scientists from Hong Kong University of science and technology and other research centres. They reported about it in an article in the journal Nature.
Previously, scientists have already shown this possibility in experiments, but now was able to detect microdroplets containing RNA of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, in two hospitals in Wuhan, where he treated patients with COVID-19. Samples were collected in February-March 2020. The researchers also took samples of the air in supermarkets and homes.
Everywhere, which was attended by patients with coronavirus in the air was detected microdroplets discharge diameter of less than several thousandths of a millimeter, containing virus particles.
the Smallest concentration was in a well-ventilated hospital wards. The largest — in the toilets, which are poorly ventilated.
In residential buildings and supermarkets, the virus was not present, although it managed to locate in places of a congestion of people near one of the hospitals. But the concentration was low — at least one viral particle has entered the body of a man, it would take about 15 minutes.
After hospitals have introduced stricter cleaning procedures, the number of virions in the air decreased significantly.
Data from the Wuhan resonate with the data of medical center at the University of Nebraska in the United States. There researchers were able to detect coronavirus RNA in the air and on surfaces — for example, on window sills and under beds in hospitals. The work is not yet published, but the authors believe that all the matter in microcable carried by air currents.
neither the Chinese Nor the American scientists can not yet say how viable virus portable this way.
At the moment they are busy trying to figure it out. However microdroplets emitted during respiration, are distributed at least at arm’s length and is able to stay in the air for more than two hours, creating the potential for infection.
“Over the past couple of weeks we have made great progress, says Professor of Microbiology Joshua Santarpia from the University of Nebraska. — I very much hope that we will be able to say something to be more certain next week or so”.
Until now it was thought that the virus is spread through larger droplets, or through touching Sarareceding surfaces, the researchers explain. They believe that so far the who has underestimated the potential of transmission just by breathing.
While there are no accurate data on the viability of airborne virus, the researchers recommend avoiding small, enclosed spaces and crowds, and do not forget to ventilate the room.
it is Also not known whether wore masks people who visited the places where the virus had been found.
to find out how well they hold microdroplets distributed an infected person.
Previously, the concern regarding the spread of coronavirus in the air scored physics. Belgian scientist Bert Blocken calculated by aerodynamic simulations — depending on the mode of human transport, a safe distance between people can be up to 20 m.
Move side by side with someone is safer than to follow him, the scientist noted. Being somebody, who’s going fast enough, you should stay away from him at a distance of at least 4.5 m.
If a person is running, you must retreat 10 metres, the cyclist must be at a distance of 20 m.
Another way to avoid falling into the flow — to leave a couple of feet to the side. When overtaking Broken recommends you make sure the person who will be behind you, you will not get in your “zone”.
