The World Health Organization (WHO) has provided an update on the modes of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, from infected people, based on new scientific evidence.
The WHO on Thursday, formally recognized that the coronavirus can be transmitted indoors by droplets in the air, marking a reversal for the United Nation’s agency.
In a scientific brief, the WHO said that people who spend time in crowded places with poor ventilation are at risk of being infected by the coronavirus as the droplets circulate throughout the air in indoor gatherings.
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This admission is coming on the heels of criticisms from experts who have been putting pressure on the UN health agency to update its description of the spread of the virus to include the possibility of airborne infections.
The WHO now admits that transmissions through aerosols, or tiny air droplets, could have been behind outbreaks of COVID-19 that have been reported in some closed environments such as restaurants, nightclubs, places of worship or places of work where people may be shouting, talking or singing.
Apart from refraining from having close contact with infected people and frequent hand-washing, the WHO pointed out that people should avoid crowded places, close-contact settings, and confined and enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.
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However, the WHO still focuses more on the spread of the virus by larger droplets that are discharged through coughing, sneezing and singing or from contact with a contaminated surface.
The WHO in its statement said, “Respiratory droplet transmission can occur when a person is in close contact (within 1 metre) with an infected person who has respiratory symptoms (e.g. coughing or sneezing) or who is talking or singing; in these circumstances, respiratory droplets that include virus can reach the mouth, nose or eyes of a susceptible person and can result in infection.”
It also revealed that based on what is currently known, the transmission of COVID-19 primarily occurs from people when they have symptoms and can also occur just before they develop symptoms when they are in close proximity to others for prolonged periods of time. While someone who never develops symptoms can also pass the virus to others, it is still not clear to what extent this occurs and more research is needed in this area.
The UN health agency had previously advised that the spread of the virus through the air is only common when people, mostly health care workers, were involved in medical procedures that produced aerosols, though a lot of evidence has surfaced suggesting that the virus can stay in the air for hours and infect a person when inhaled.
Chike,thanks for the update on the possible ways corona virus can spread,especially within an enclosed environment like churches where a lot of praise singing are made.
@Ugchi,why church? Is it only churches that large crowd gather?
Anyway, it’s your opinion.
Jesus is the way, the truth and life. No any plaque shall befall any assembly of the chosen.
That’s problems with African Man, we’ve been brain washed to a point that we can’t dictate the truth. He made his point and you’re tackling him.
Why attack him?he made is point same way you are making your own.why will the doctors treat and tell you God heals,don’t you think that if the doctor fails, that God is the only solution to this virus?please there is an agenda
So Airlines sitting arrangements is less than 1 meter. This update is satanic if it excludes airlines. The aim of the update is against Trump that calls for reopening of schools and colleges.
Waec in Nigeria has been postponed because of this misinformation. The elections in ondo and Edo should will involve people much more than those that may write exams.
WHO should provide data analysis of the covid patients that have recovered all over the world. Because they are more than 90% of those infected. That is more significant than those who died in terms of %. Whatever they used should be published to show they know what they are doing. Spreading the bad news is deservice to humanity.
God is watching us, let them keep cooking up their evil plans that will surely come to nothing. God is above them. The gates of hell can not stop the church from moving on.
Hmmmm why church
Why Church? They have been gathearing holding their evil council that will always come to nothing why Church specifically? Some airlines have started. Well the earth is the footstool of God and the fullness thereof.The gates of hell can’t prevail the church from moving on. Let them keep cooking up their evil plans that will always fail.
Church is their target. Markets and business places are exempted. Instead of searching and researching for effective cure, they resort to commentary. Idiots.
So the droplets is magic that will stick in the air for an hour! What is holding it in the air!? Only God knows what you people are up to.
Don’t mind them those in the plane for more than two to three hours those in the bank for 6hrs in . Why are you only on church. Please look for how you can look for cure . I know God will soon come to our rescue