COVID-19 possibly airborne, public advised to be extra careful by DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) has called again for the public to take note of the health safety protocols. They remind everyone to properly wear mask, observe physical distancing, cough etiquette, and proper hand washing to reduce the risk of contacting the coronavirus disease after the emerging of evidence that coronavirus maybe transmitted through air.

Photo credit: trtworld.com

In a commentary that appeared in the Oxford Academic journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, researchers wrote that studies have shown “beyond any reasonable doubt” that viruses can travel tens of meters in the air, and analyses of certain spreading events had demonstrated the same was true of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, AFP reported earlier. 

“There is significant potential for inhalation exposure to viruses in microscopic respiratory droplets (micro-droplets) at short to medium distances (up to several meters, or room scale),” wrote the authors led by Lidia Morawska of the Queensland University of Technology. 

Dr. Edsel Salvana, an infectious disease specialist at the University of the Philippines’ National Institutes of Health said that with this emerging evidence about COVID-19, it is imperative for the public to be extra careful. 

“This possibility of airborne transmission is not new, and even if the evidence is far from definitive, it is always prudent to take precautions,” said Salvana. 

Salvana said that the public should avoid talking without a mask, particularly in enclosed areas such as elevators and be meticulous with cloth or surgical mask wearing. Also, avoid crowded areas and enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.

“Singing has also been implicated in super-spreader events, so no karaoke for now. Do not eat together at work as this has also been associated with clusters,” he added. 

Salvana also advised the public to avoid non-essential travel, work from home if possible and disinfect regularly.

He also reminded that Covid-19 is beatable if we all work together and if everyone does the right thing to protect each other.