On Monday, in a statement that might bring ample relief to the world, the World Health Organisation’s official statement rubbished reports that suggested novel corona COVID-19 virus can spread airborne. The statement was released by the World Health Organisation office.
On March 16th, while the World Health Organisation was considering precautions to be taken by medical staff to avoid the aerial transmission of the coronavirus, messages were circulated that the coronavirus might spread through the air. The messages were clearly misreported. The messages sparked fear among the community which led to panic and people hoarding masks.
It is true that the World Health Organisation mentioned the possibility of the virus being alive in the air as it does only in certain conditions. The consideration is only for the medical staff who is involved in treating a patient diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus who is in an intensive care unit (ICC). According to the officials, the coronavirus can stay airborne only in conditions depending on the humidity and heat.
Scientists around the world are constantly studying the transmission of the virus under different temperatures, different levels of humidity and how ultraviolet light affects the disease. The World Health Organisation officials acknowledged the possibility of the virus being airborne and hence defending the precautions they have listed on their website.
COVID-19 doesn’t spread Airborne
On Monday, the South-East-Asian office of the World Health Organisation confirmed that the novel coronavirus does not spread airborne. However, according to the reports, there is a possibility of the virus being spread through the air under a relatively closed environment with prolonged pressure.
The statement released by the World Health Organisation says that,
“Airborne spread hasn’t been reported for COVID-19. Chinese authorities reported the possibility of aerosol transmission in a relatively closed environment with prolonged exposure like ICUs-CCUs in hospitals, but more epid data analysis is needed to understand this.”
Dr. Poonam Khetarpal Singh, Regional Director of World Health Organisation Southeast Asia confirmed that so far no case of airborne infection has been reported. Based on the infections recorded as of today, the World Health Organisation officials clarify that the virus spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact with an infected person.
