An influential Canadian doctor and top adviser to the World Health Organization has come under fire from international experts for his controversial comments downplaying the risk of airborne spread of the coronavirus. The WHO's position is there's a possibility that aerosol transmission can lead to outbreaks of COVID-19 in certain situations. Now, hundreds of scientists are saying there is evidence that the virus is airborne and are calling for the WHO to revise its recommendations. 6:01Global acknowledgment of airborne spreadThe United Nations agency also came under fire in July after 239 scientists from 32 countries wrote an open letter calling on it to update its messaging on the risk of airborne transmission of the coronavirus. said Kimberly Prather, an atmospheric chemist and aerosol scientist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, Calif.WATCH | Being outdoors reduces, doesn't eliminate, COVID-19 risk, experts say:Being outdoors reduces, doesn’t eliminate COVID-19 risk, experts say The National 1:58 The risk of catching COVID-19 remains low outdoors, but experts say infection is possible especially because of the variants of concern.

Source: CBC News April 21, 2021 07:52 UTC