WHO Now Acknowledges The Possibility Of Novel Coronavirus Being Airborne Spread
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On Tuesday, the World Health Organization began considering “evidence emerging” of the novel coronavirus being airborne spread after a group of scientists prompted the global agency to revise its guidelines on its transmission from person to person.
“We have been talking about the possibility of airborne transmission and aerosol transmission as one of the modes of transmission of COVID-19,” Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical lead on the virus pandemic, said in a news briefing, per Jakarta Post.
The WHO has previously noted that the virus spreads commonly through small droplets expelled from the nose and mouth of a COVID-19 patient. However, 239 scientists in 32 countries have since outlined evidence in an open letter showing that smaller floating virus particles can infect people through inhalation.
In their letter, published in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal, the scientists urged the agency to update its guidance on the transmission of the virus. The letter has been published in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal.
Van Kerkhove mentioned that “the possibility of airborne transmission in public settings, especially in very specific conditions, crowded, closed, poorly ventilated settings that have been described, cannot be ruled out.” The WHO technical lead also stated that the evidence requires further examination and interpretation, which the organization will “continue to support.”
I’ve recently had several colleagues ask me if @WHO has technical guidance for #COVID19...
— Maria Van Kerkhove (@mvankerkhove) March 26, 2020
YES! it is here: https://t.co/MJK8qRnsku
Our guidance has been online since 10 Jan, and we regularly update it based on latest evidence. 👇@DrTedros @DrMikeRyan @SCBriand
[via Nikkei, cover image via Shutterstock]
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