Beware, it turns out that Covid-19 spreads easier than you thought

KOMPAS.com – Since the beginning pandemic Covid-19 spread, one of the debates that often arise is the possibility of a virus corona airborne or not.

In an official report uploaded in early July, the World Health Organization ( WHO) said that the corona virus can indeed spread through the air.

However, there are still many parties who doubt this conclusion.

Well, recently, the WHO report stating the possibility of spreading the corona virus through the air was also supported by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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On its official website, the CDC says the corona virus can spread through saliva (droplet) or tiny particles that a person produces while breathing.

“Airborne viruses, incl Covid-19 are most contagious and spread easily, “explains the CDC website.

Before the guidelines were updated, the CDC stated that Covid-19 is thought to spread when someone is in close proximity to another person, about two meters.

The CDC also said that Covid-19 can spread through respiratory droplets when someone who is infected with the virus talks and experiences coughing or sneezing.

The explanation on the page was updated on Friday (18/9/2020).

“Covid-19 spreads through respiratory droplets or small particles such as aerosols that are produced when someone who is infected with the virus coughs, sneezes, sings, talks, or breathes.”

These particles can trigger an infection when inhaled by the nose, mouth, airways and lungs.

“This is considered to be the main way of spreading the virus,” the written explanation said.

The CDC page also adds that there is evidence that respiratory droplets and particles can stay in the air and be inhaled by others, and spread more than two meters away.

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“In general, confined spaces without proper ventilation increase this risk.”

With that in mind, the CDC then updated its guidelines to protect ourselves and others.

Previously, they advised everyone to maintain a physical distance of about two meters, wash their hands, clean and disinfect surfaces regularly, and use masks when around other people.

Currently, the guideline update mentions that everyone should maintain a distance of at least two meters from others whenever possible.

Then, ask people to wear masks and clean and disinfect surfaces.

In addition, the CDC added, a person must isolate himself at home when exposed to the virus, and use an air purifier to reduce germs in the room.

This guideline update changes the terms “some people without symptoms ‘likely’ can spread the virus” to “people who are infected, but are asymptomatic, ‘can’ spread the virus to others.”

The argument for the spread of Covid-19 by air is also supported by experts.

Scientists note the possibilities transmission corona virus through virus particles in the air.

Last April, a scientific panel – a group of experts representing a problem – wrote a letter to the White House containing findings related to the coronavirus.

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It states that Covid-19 not only spreads from sneezing or coughing, but also talking and breathing.

“The specific research for the corona virus is currently limited, but the results of existing studies consistently suggest that the spread of the virus originates from breathing.”

So reads a letter written by Dr Harvey Fineberg – former dean of the Harvard School of Public Health, and Chair of the NAS Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats.

“Currently existing research supports the possibility that the corona virus can spread through bioaerosol which is produced from the patient’s breathing,” the letter said.

In July, 239 scientists published letters to WHO and other health organizations.

Scientists urge the WHO and other health organizations in the world to be more open about the possibility of people catching the virus from respiratory droplets present in the air.

“Guidelines from various international and national agencies focus on hand washing, distancing and prevention droplet, “wrote the scientists.

The letter was published in a journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

They also assessed that most health organizations, including WHO, do not recognize airborne transmission of the virus, apart from health centers undergoing procedures to produce aerosols.

“Hand washing and keeping your distance is appropriate, but in our view, it doesn’t really provide protection from the tiny droplets released into the air by people who are infected with the virus.”

After the letter was published, the WHO released a report detailing how the coronavirus can be transmitted from one person to another.

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Transmission this includes by air during certain medical procedures and possibly by air in the room.

Co-author of the letter, Donald Milton, a professor of environmental health at the University of Maryland who studies the process of virus transmission, said the CDC’s guidelines were a major advance.

“I was moved to see the CDC watch and move with science. The evidence is mounting,” Milton wrote in e-mailto him CNN.

Milton alluded to the findings of the preprint study released in August as important additional information for the coronavirus originating from aerosol particles spreading more than two meters away.

“It is time for the WHO to acknowledge the progress of science,” said Milton.

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