More than 200 experts from 32 different countries all have the same claim: the coronavirus is airborne. The group is said to publish an open letter to the World Health Organization (WHO) in a scientific journal this week to call for updates on its guidelines for COVID-19.
The WHO previously said the virus is spread through larger respiratory droplets from an infected person's coughs and sneezes. Additionally, the agency said the virus will drop out of the air quickly because of its large size.
However, many scientists now claim that the SARS-COV-2 virus is airborne. This means that the virus particles can remain suspended in the air in indoor spaces. Furthermore, it can infect people when the particles in the air are inhaled.
The New York Times reports that if the virus is indeed airborne, the consequences for containment will be drastic. New preventive measures would include wearing masks when indoors and the mandatory use of N95 masks for all health care workers.
Additionally, ventilation systems would need to be improved to minimize recirculating air.
After going through internal WHO emails and interviews with at least 20 scientists and some consultants from WHO, the Times account said that the agency is "out of step with science," despite the agency's good intentions.
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Scientists: COVID-19 is an Airborne Disease
According to The New York Times, the recent rise in the number of new cases after the reopening of businesses and offices confirms what many scientists have been saying for months. The coronavirus can linger in the air, particularly in indoor spaces, making it easier to infect people within the vicinity.
Linsey Marr, a co-signatory of the letter and an expert in airborne transmission of viruses at Virginia Tech, says that the WHO had confided on studies from hospitals that suggested scant levels of virus in the air.
She added that this underestimated the risk, since the air exchange in most buildings is usually much lower, which dangerously allows the virus to assemble in the air.
The WHO says medical procedures such as intubation increase the risk of aerosol transmission. However, outside of this context, the evidence is left unclear. The agency contests that the matter is an area of active research.
WHO: Coronavirus Is Transmitted Through Droplets
Furthermore, according to the WHO's infection prevention committee member, Paul Hunter, the agency provided the right balance in its advice for the public. He says that although aerosol transmission can occur, it most likely isn't too critical in the grand scheme of things.
Hunter explains that it is all about droplets. He adds that controlling airborne transmission won't do much in controlling the spread of COVID-19. He says it would only impose unnecessary burdens, especially in countries with limited resources and trained staff.
Additionally, Dr. Benedetta Allegranzi, the WHO's technical lead of infection prevention and control, echoes the same sentiment. She says that they have been stating in the last couple of months that although airborne transmission could be possible, it is certainly not supported by clear and solid evidence.
