Coronavirus is possibly Airborne – WHO

According to World Health Organization (WHO), there is emerging evidence that shows that the novel coronavirus also spreads through air.

“We have been talking about the possibility of airborne transmission and aerosol transmission as one of the modes of transmission of COVID-19,” Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead on the COVID-19 pandemic at the WHO, told a news briefing

Benedetta Allegranzi, another WHO’s technical lead for infection prevention and control, said that evidence emerging of airborne transmission of the coronavirus in “crowded, closed, poorly ventilated settings that have been described, cannot be ruled out”.

According to current evidence, COVID-19 virus is primarily transmitted between people through respiratory droplets and contact routes.

Droplet transmission occurs when a person is in in close contact (within 1 m) with someone who has respiratory symptoms (e.g., coughing or sneezing)

Transmission of the COVID-19 virus can occur by direct contact with infected people and indirect contact with surfaces in the immediate environment or with objects used on the infected person (e.g., stethoscope or thermometer).

WHO recommendations emphasize the importance of rational and appropriate use of all Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), not only masks, which requires correct and rigorous behavior from health care workers, particularly in doffing procedures and hand hygiene practices.

Currently, 11.8 million cases of coronavirus have been recorded across the globe with 544 thousand-plus recoveries and 6.42 million recoveries.