(Riya Singh, Intern Journalist): The World Health Organization has insisted for months that Covid-19 can only be transmitted through droplets emitted when people are coughing or sneezing. Droplets that do not linger in the air, but fall onto surfaces – that’s why handwashing has been identified as a key prevention measure.
But 239 scientists from 32 countries don’t agree to this. They claim there is also good evidence that the infection can also spread by even smaller particles in the air when people speak or breathe out. They also accused the organization of underestimating the possibility of airborne transmission.
Today the WHO has accepted that there is growing evidence that tiny particles suspended in the air can transmit the virus. They admitted that this was possible in specific settings, such as enclosed and crowded spaces. The evidence will need to be thoroughly evaluated, but if confirmed, the advice on how to prevent the spread of the virus may need to change and could lead to the more widespread use of masks, and social distancing, particularly in bars, restaurants, and public transport.
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