(VOVWORLD) - A scientific panel told the White House Wednesday that research shows the coronavirus can be spread, not just by sneezes or coughs, but also just by talking, or possibly just by breathing.
 Medical staffs at a Wuhan hospital, China on March 4, 2020 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) |
While specific research is limited, the results of available studies are consistent with aerosolization of this virus from normal breathing, according to a letter written by Dr. Harvey Fineberg, a committee chairman with the National Academy of Sciences. "Currently available research supports the possibility that the novel coronavirus could be spread via bioaerosols generated directly by patients' exhalation." it states.
The letter explains that research at a hospital in China shows the virus can be suspended in the air when doctors and nurses remove protective gear, or when floors are cleaned, or when staff move around. Fineberg said it's possible that aerosolized coronavirus droplets could hang in the air and potentially infect someone who walks by later.
How long coronavirus lingers in the air depends on several factors, including how much virus an infected individual puts out when breathing or talking, and also on the amount of circulation in the air, he said, adding that coronavirus is not as infectious as measles or tuberculosis.