Good Lifestyle

The federal government has made a quick pivot on the threat of coronavirus spreading in the air, changing a clin orientation of the weekend.

AtSeptember 18The disease control and prevention control centers have warned that tiny airborne particles, not just the largest drops of water from sternten or cough, could infect others. He cited "evidence".

ThroughSeptember 21, this warning had gone from his website, with a note indicating that it had been posted by mistake and the CDC was updating its recommendations.

The move put the CDC in the middle of a debate on how the coronavirus infects people. Its guidelines could make the difference between restaurants, bars and other places where people totally gather the break earlier or much later.

And he raised more questions about the policy at the Public Health Agency and whether the White House leaders dictate the policy to the health authorities.

So, what does the science say about airborne transmission?

The emerging picture is a work in progress, but many of the pieces take stock towards the potential for airborne transmission. And to cross this pandemic with your healthiest, do not miss these Without signs that you have already had coronavirus.

The challenge of airborne transmission

The CDCretracted languageSaid: "There is growing evidence that droplets and airborne particles may remain suspended in the air and be respected by other people and travel distances beyond 6 feet (for example, during practice. of the choir, in restaurants or in fitness classes). "

Why is it a big deal? This means that the guidelines for correct physical distancing should be increased.

Six feet is the reference for security that made it possible to shape the reopening of schools and businesses at the national level. The number is based on long-standing discovery that larger water decreases on a cough are so heavy that most of them fall on the floor before the 6 feet mark.

But much smaller droplets can hang in the air longer. The debate is whether they wear enough of the virus to infect another person. If the answer is yes, the implications for everyday life could be substantial.

The University of Maryland School School Professor Donald Milton sees a lot of evidence that airborne transmission is a major factor, but he stressed that a definitive answer is difficult to come.

Nobody does not agree that near someone with the disease is the main threat. But Milton said what's going on during this period is hard to unravel.

"It could be that they cough and you are infected by getting a direct shot on your eye or your mouth," Milton said. "Or could it be an airborne particle that you inspire. Or you may have touched something, then you touched your nose or mouth. It's diabolically difficult to fix that."

That said, many incidents and studies emphasize the idea that airborne particles play a more important role than thought.

RELATED: I am a doctor of infectious disease and I will never touch this

The research

An international group of researchers from China, Australia and the United States recentlyexamined the evidence of airborne transmission. They concluded that it was very plausible.

A study published in theActs of the National Academy of Sciencesreported that a strong minute conversation could produce "1,000 droplet kernels containing virus that can remain in the air for more than eight minutes".

The conclusion of the authors? "These are likely to be inhaled by others and trigger new infections."

Public transit is a key trial field.

In ChinaScientists have examined 126 passengers on two buses making a trip that lasted about an hour and a half. A bus was without virus, the other had an infected rider. People on the bus with the virus were 41.5 times more likely to be infected.

Many other researchers noted theSuper-spreading eventWhen practicing the 2½ hour choir of the Skagit Valley choir in Mount Vernon, Washington. Of the 61 people who attended, there were 53 confirmed and potential cases and two deaths.

AStudy of the University of FloridaExchanged air in the hospital halls of two coovidian patients. They found aerosol particles bearing enough viral load to infect a person over 15 meters from patients.

In July, 239 researchersco-signed an open letterThis called on national and international health agencies to "recognize the potential for airborne propagation" of COVID-19.

Credible studies, they wrote, "have demonstrated a reasonable doubt that viruses are released when expirating, talking and coughing small microdroplans to stay in the form of air and pose a risk of exposure."

Always, JulyWorld Health OrganizationReport discovered While airborne transmission was possible, more robust research was needed to confirm that it presents an appreciable risk.

RELATED:Dr. Fauci says you can catch Covid this way after all

Some implications

If public health officials take airborne transmission more seriously, Milton said there are some implications. Most business activities could continue, but restaurants and bars - because the masks do not match eating and drinking - cope with a higher obstacle.

Beyond this, more attention to ventilation in more closed spaces becomes important, as well as the offer of N95 masks. These masks continue to be briefsupply.

As for yourself, do everything you can to prevent you from installing - COVID-19 in the first place: Wear your facial maskBe tested if you think you have coronavirus, avoid crowds (and bars and evenings of the house), practice social distance, do only run essential races, wash your hands regularly, disinfect frequently affected areas and to cross this healthiest pandemic, do not miss these35 places you are most likely to catch Covid.

ThroughJon Greenberg, Politifact