The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new guidelines on its website, now saying that the coronavirus not only can sometimes spread through airborne transmission, but more than 6 feet under certain conditions.
A similar proclamation appeared briefly on the CDC’s website in late September, only to be taken down. The agency said they removed it because the information was still under review.
As noted by The Hill, the CDC this time was careful to include the word “sometimes” when talking about the airborne transmission. They also clarified that “poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces” put you more at risk, especially when it involves “heavier breathing, like singing or exercise.”
The same day, the journal Science published an article clarifying airborne transmission versus droplets. “Viruses in droplets (larger than 100 μm) typically fall to the ground in seconds within 2 m (6.5 feet) of the source and can be sprayed like tiny cannonballs onto nearby individuals,” the article says.
“Because of their limited travel range, physical distancing reduces exposure to these droplets … Individuals with COVID-19, many of whom have no symptoms, release thousands of virus-laden aerosols and far fewer droplets when breathing and talking. Thus, one is far more likely to inhale aerosols than be sprayed by a droplet, and so the balance of attention must be shifted to protecting against airborne transmission.”
SOURCES:
The Hill October 5, 2020
Science October 5, 2020