Specialists in the study of the properties of air and aerosols Lydia Moravska of Queensland technical University and Cao Junji from the Chinese Academy of Sciences suggest that calling COVID-19 coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is likely to spread indoors through the air over long distances and call upon the international and national health organizations to take appropriate preventive measures.
In their assumptions, scientists come primarily from the similarity of SARS-CoV-2 with its predecessor, the SARS virus SARS-CoV, which is indoors is spread mostly through the air. Backing up your assumptions with examples of other similar viruses, norovirus and avian flu, they make a conclusion about high probability of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 on the indoor air over long distances — up to several tens of meters.
Moravska and Cao say that the complexity of virus detection in the air doesn’t mean it isn’t there, and surprised by the small attention which public health officials around the world, given this is quite likely the way the infection is spread.
The researchers also wonder how after isolation in their cabins and meticulous hygiene were found to be infected with coronavirus passengers on several cruise ships. And don’t rule out the possibility that infection could occur through the ship’s ventilation system or by transfer of virus via the air from one cabin to another.
Unequivocally confirm their hypothesis of CA and Cao can not — it requires long study. But they believe that her lack of evidence is not a reason to ignore the probability of virus spread by air, and therefore, now is the time to take preventive measures to maximize where possible, natural ventilation, ventilate thoroughly the premises and public transport, and also recommend people to wear masks in public places. Scientists believe that it is better to err, than later, after the end of the epidemic, when it will be too late by retrospective studies to understand that the virus still spread through the air.
But these researchers ‘ only concern premises. According to the main non-staff epidemiologist of Russia, academician Nikolai Briko, outdoors virus is unstable and will propagate over long distances, and especially to fly with the wind between the regions, the coronavirus is not capable.
