An overview of bioaerosols size and its effects in COVID-19 transmission

December 9th, 2020

This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (yellow)—also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19—isolated from a patient, emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab. Credit: NIAID-RML

A new open access and peer-reviewed article explains how SARS-CoV-2 can be spread through bioaerosols causing the COVID-19 coronavirus disease.

The research had been available as a preprint since last April and explains work conducted in two hospitals in Wuhan (China) , showing that medical staff removing their protective equipment release from them a considerable number of particle with the virus that could cause others to get sick.

The aerosolization concept provides a pathway to help explain why COVID-19 is spreading so fast, specially from human actions such as coughing, talking or flushing a toilet.

The work reinforces the importance for public policy for wearing facemasks.

More information at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/hpm.3095

More information:
An overview of the effect of bioaerosol size in coronavirus disease 2019 transmission. Marcelo I. Guzman. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 2020, 1-10, DOI: 10.1002/hpm.3095, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/hpm.3095

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