Coronavirus is airborne; hundreds of scientists urge WHO to revise recommendations

NEW YORK: Hundreds of scientists say there is evidence that the novel coronavirus is now airborne and urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to revise its recommendations on how to stay safe from the disease. The WHO has said coronavirus spreads primarily from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, which are expelled when a person with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes or speaks.

In an open letter to the agency, which the researchers plan to publish in a scientific journal next week, 239 scientists in 32 countries focused on the evidence showing smaller particles can infect people.  According to the New York Times, the scientists said that whether carried by large droplets that are transmitted through the air after a sneeze or by smaller exhaled droplets that move across the length of the room, the coronavirus is airborne and can affect people when inhaled.

The New York Times quoted Dr. Benedetta Allegranzi, technical lead of infection prevention and control, WHO, saying that in the last couple of months especially, they have considered the possibility of airborne transmission of the novel coronavirus but the evidence for the same was not convincing, solid or even clear.