Reducing the volume of speech in a high-risk room reduces the risk of spreading corona.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Recent research has revealed that increasing quiet zones in high-risk rooms can help reduce the risk of spreading the corona virus. The room in question includes a hospital and a restaurant.
The findings come from studies showing it reduces speak volume can reduce the spread of the disease. Reported Reuters, in an attempt to control transmission, reducing six decibels while speaking on average has the same effect as doubling the ventilation of the room.
“The results suggest that public health authorities should consider implementing quiet zones in high-risk indoor environments, such as hospital waiting rooms or dining rooms,” wrote six researchers from the University of California, Davis, Wednesday.
The World Health Organization changed its guidelines in July to announce the possibility of airborne transmission, such as during choir practice or at restaurants. The microscopic droplets of saliva that come out while speaking evaporate and leave aerosol particles large enough to carry the virus.
A louder 35 decibel increase, or the difference between whispering and shouting, increases the particle emission rate by up to 50 times. Normal conversation is above the 10 decibel range, while noise in restaurants is around 70.
“Not all indoor environments have the same risk of airborne transmission,” said lead researcher William Ristenpart.
“A busy, but quiet classroom is much less dangerous than a quiet karaoke place and people away, but talking and singing over loud music.”
source: Antara, Reuters
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