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IronLionZion

(45,466 posts)
Sat May 30, 2020, 09:36 AM May 2020

Aerosol Scientist: COVID-19 Is Likely Airborne

https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200527/aerosol-scientist-covid19-is-likely-airborne

There’s how quickly it has spread around the world, studies showing how it spreads through restaurants (maybe by the air conditioning system?), how it attacked a church choir even though they were spread apart while they were singing, how it seems to spread like wildfire on planes and on cruise ships; all of this, she says, Prather should know. She studies aerosols -- particles so tiny they float freely through the air, traveling feet or even miles. She runs a large, government-funded research center at the University of California San Diego to study how viruses and other things that come out of the ocean float through the air.

“A lot of the evidence has been pointing to aerosol transmission of respiratory viruses,” she says. Influenza can be passed through the air, as can the virus that causes SARS. “This particular virus, a lot of evidence is mounting.”

Prather says she’s been alarmed not to see the CDC or WHO come out with a strong statement that people could catch COVID-19 by breathing it in.

“It’s just shocking to me, quite honestly, that this has not been factored in.”

And she believes masks can play a major role in stopping that transmission.

In an interview with America magazine on May 26, Anthony Fauci, MD, who leads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, referenced aerosol transmission in churches.


Guidance so far has been based on droplets, which got us the 6 feet social distance rule. Aerosol particles are much smaller, travel much farther, and linger in the air much longer. Reading this should encourage more Masking For A Friend.
8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Aerosol Scientist: COVID-19 Is Likely Airborne (Original Post) IronLionZion May 2020 OP
Not surprised elias7 May 2020 #1
K&R Without comment. Hugin May 2020 #2
keep wearing your masks, esp. runners on public sidewalks Blues Heron May 2020 #3
K&R for visibility. crickets May 2020 #4
Saw a report couple of weeks ago on aerosol transmission in public bathrooms, from toilet flush. nt wiggs May 2020 #5
Yes, and hand dryers blow it around everywhere IronLionZion May 2020 #6
The CDC is permitting itself to be censored on this issue. Ms. Toad May 2020 #7
Trump appointees are controlling CDC IronLionZion May 2020 #8

elias7

(4,012 posts)
1. Not surprised
Sat May 30, 2020, 09:40 AM
May 2020

That was my intuitive sense upon hearing of how fast the virus was spreading in China. Then, there became this large camp for fecal oral transmission as people were presenting with G.I. symptoms.

The epidemiology has been all over the map on this one. It will take time to sort it all out.

IronLionZion

(45,466 posts)
6. Yes, and hand dryers blow it around everywhere
Sat May 30, 2020, 12:46 PM
May 2020

many buildings here in DC closed their restrooms to the public. Workers only.

I'm worried about air conditioning and people being indoors breathing shared air. Even outdoors as I was walking past buildings it looks like air conditioners blow hot air out into the street.

Ms. Toad

(34,076 posts)
7. The CDC is permitting itself to be censored on this issue.
Sat May 30, 2020, 12:59 PM
May 2020
Last Friday, the administration released pandemic guidance for faith communities after weeks of debate flared between the White House and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those guidelines posted on the CDC website included recommendations that religious communities “consider suspending or at least decreasing use of choir/musical ensembles and congregant singing, chanting, or reciting during services or other programming, if appropriate within the faith tradition.”

It added: “The act of singing may contribute to transmission of Covid-19, possibly through emission of aerosols.”

By Saturday, that version was replaced by updated guidance that no longer includes any reference to choirs or congregant singing and the risk for spreading virus. The altered guidance also deleted a reference to “shared cups” among items, including hymnals and worship rugs, that should not be shared. The updated guidelines also added language that said the guidance “is not intended to infringe on rights protected by the First Amendment.”



https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/white-house-and-cdc-remove-coronavirus-warnings-about-choirs-in-faith-guidance/2020/05/28/5d9c526e-a117-11ea-9590-1858a893bd59_story.html

IronLionZion

(45,466 posts)
8. Trump appointees are controlling CDC
Sat May 30, 2020, 01:11 PM
May 2020

but WHO is outside of Trump's influence. Also other countries have their versions of CDC to issue guidance. Asian countries have issued guidance on this.

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