Thursday 09 July 2020 21:16
The WHO published new guidelines today. Image: Pixabay
The WHO announced in its newly published guidelines on Thursday that the transmission of coronaviruses through the air cannot be excluded. This would affect restaurants, fitness studios and other closed rooms.
The WHO had previously informed that the virus could get into the air in certain environments, for example in the context of medical procedures in which aerosols emanate from the human body.
The newly published guidelines include current research results, which indicate that the virus may spread in crowded interiors through particles in the air. Examples of possible areas of air transmission were choir exercises in insufficiently ventilated rooms, densely filled restaurants or fitness courses.
Earlier WHO statements made reference to the possibility of air transmission in such environments, but droplet spreading and to surfaces was considered a more plausible explanation for the transmission.
The WHO clarified that further research is needed to further examine the preliminary results. Infection via droplets is still considered the main mode of transmission for the time being.
The WHO opinion on a possible airborne transmission came in response to an open letter from 239 scientists from 32 different countries earlier this week. The scientists asked WHO and other health authorities to update their information about the coronavirus. Part of the demand was that more weight should be given to the spread of Covid-19 over the air.
–
