Chinese Researchers: "COVID-19 Travels 4.5m in Air"… Twice WHO Safety Distance

Long-term exposure to high concentrations of aerosols increases disease risk
Move twice as far as the 1-2m safety distance recommended by WHO

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] A Chinese study has found that the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) can be transmitted from a distance due to aerosols (solid particles or liquid droplets in the air) that remain airborne for over 30 minutes and can travel up to 4.5 meters.

On the 10th, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that a COVID-19 epidemiology research team under the Hunan Provincial Government in China concluded through epidemiological investigations of infection cases that the COVID-19 virus can remain suspended in the air for at least 30 minutes and travel up to 4.5 meters. The report especially noted that the airborne movement of the virus is more pronounced in enclosed spaces with heating systems.

Even in enclosed spaces, the virus can move more actively by riding on warm air currents generated by heaters. This indicates that the virus can travel farther in the air than the commonly known COVID-19 safety distance of 1 to 2 meters, provided the conditions are met.

The researchers also revealed that the virus does not easily perish. When the virus in fine form comes into contact with surfaces such as glass, fabric, plastic, paper, or metal, it can survive for 2 to 3 days at around 37 degrees Celsius without dying. They warned that if a person who is not infected with COVID-19 touches these objects and then touches their face, they could become infected.

Additionally, the research team concluded that the COVID-19 virus can survive for more than 5 days if it penetrates human excreta or bodily fluids.

Generally, droplets from confirmed patients quickly settle to the ground, so airborne transmission of the COVID-19 virus is considered to have limited probability. However, it has been confirmed that exposure to high concentrations of aerosols for extended periods in relatively enclosed environments can lead to infection.

These three research findings emphasize the importance of wearing masks in public places and frequently washing hands to prevent COVID-19 infection. The researchers urged in the academic journal "Practical Preventive Medicine" that "when using public transportation such as buses, masks must be worn at all times, and ventilation and disinfection inside public transport should be carefully managed."

This research result emerged during an epidemiological investigation of a case where a patient, who was diagnosed with COVID-19 late, boarded a bus without wearing a mask on January 22 before knowing they were infected, subsequently infecting 8 out of 49 passengers. Passengers located 4.5 meters away from the confirmed patient were infected without any physical contact. At that time, the bus was a sealed space with all windows closed, the heater was operating, and most passengers were not wearing masks.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.