That had been previously demonstrated in laboratory experiments, but now Chinese scientists studying real-world conditions report that they captured tiny droplets containing the genetic markers of the virus from the air in two hospitals in Wuhan, China, where the outbreak started. “It strongly suggests that there is potential for airborne transmission.”Marr and many other scientists say evidence is mounting that the coronavirus is being spread by tiny droplets known as aerosols. Although the coronavirus RNA — the genetic blueprint of the virus — was present in the aerosols, scientists do not know yet is whether the viruses remain infectious or whether the tests just detected harmless virus fragments. “Could you culture this virus from the air?”In the Wuhan research, no viruses were detected in most of the public places they studied, including the residential building and the supermarket, although some levels were detected in crowded areas outside one of the hospitals and in the department stores. “I think it adds good evidence to avoid crowding.”c.2020 The New York Times Company

Source: bd News24 April 29, 2020 00:22 UTC