Life-Threatening COVID-19 Becomes Airborne!

Dr Manish Mohil is one of our frontline doctors from Internal Medicine Wing at PSRI Hospital, Saket, New Delhi. Today, he shares the latest medical insights on the COVID- 19 pandemics. The latest update on the spread of COVID-19 is that this virus (and other viruses) can be airborne as well too. The scientists concluded: “SARS CoV2 is released during exhalation, talking, and coughing as microdroplets small enough to remain aloft in the air and pose a risk of exposure at distances beyond 1 to 2 m from an infected individual.

“The WHO, initially it was believed that virus-laden droplets do not cause COVID-19 Infection. This further emphasises the only way to stay protected is to wear masks in public spaces whether indoors or outdoors. And more so if in a poorly ventilated space. The importance of physical distancing and hand- hygiene remains unchanged. The current COVID 19 pandemic originated from Wuhan, China in December 2019.

It spread across the globe within 4 months. The WHO declared it a pandemic by 11th March 2020. Medical research continues to bring fresh data on this new disease, contemplation on change in understanding the mechanisms and ways to deal with it. The first inspection told us the spread of the virus is caused by large droplets that are released in the air by the act of coughing or sneezing and enters through someone’s nose or mouth by touching on a contaminated surface.

But they do not stay afloat in the air for long. Therefore, the use of masks was advocated, along with social distancing and hand hygiene was established. Recently, data came into light that the virus spreads with just breathing and speaking whose particles hang in the air for an anonymous time period. Therefore it is a fact that COVID -19 is airborne.