I find it odd that it took me more
than 10 days before I heard about the open letter from 239 scientists published in Clinical Infectious
Diseases titled It is Time to
Address Airborne Transmission of COVID-19 . Should not this be given more importance in
the papers and on TV?
Main points:
Studies
by the signatories and other scientists have demonstrated beyond any reasonable
doubt that viruses are released during exhalation, talking, and coughing in
microdroplets small enough to remain aloft in air and pose a risk of
exposure at distances beyond 1 to 2 m from an infected individual
Most public health organizations, including
the World Health Organization (WHO) do not recognize airborne transmission
except for aerosol-generating procedures performed in healthcare settings. Hand washing
and social distancing are appropriate, but in our view, insufficient to provide
protection from virus-carrying
respiratory microdroplets released into the air by infected people