Can Coronavirus Spread 4 Meters? Here’s What New Study Says
Can Coronavirus Spread 4 Meters?
As the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic clearly demonstrates, there are still many things we need to figure out about the new coronavirus in order to find a treatment and beat this invisible enemy that’s infected more than 6 million people worldwide.
Health experts all over the world are trying to discover what makes this virus tick: how does coronavirus spreads, what are its symptoms, and how we can protect ourselves. In a report issued at the beginning of May, the Centers for Disease and Protection revealed 6 new symptoms people should watch out for in relation to the novel virus.
More than that, both the CDC and the WHO informed people about the spread pattern of the coronavirus and the protection measures we should all take to stay healthy and safe. Read How Does the Coronavirus Spread? Check the BEST 6 Protection Measures to learn what health officials recommend.
One of the latest studies regarding the spread of the coronavirus carried out by a team of Chinese epidemiologists and published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, a health journal of the CDC, showed a concerning result.
Latest Coronavirus Study
According to the researchers of the Academy of Military Medical Sciences in Beijing, the virus can remain in the air for at least 30 minutes and reach up to 4.5 meters, which is four times more than the safe distance advised by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The study was carried out between February 19th and March 2nd in the intensive care units in China’s Wuhan province, the place where the virus was first discovered at the end of 2019. The surfaces in the hospital wards and ICUs that treated infected patients, were studied and found to be “widely contaminated by Sars-CoV-2. These findings can be used to improve safety practices,” said the researchers.
“In addition, as medical staff walk around the ward, the virus can be tracked all over the floor, as indicated by the 100% rate of positivity from the floor in the pharmacy, where there were no patients. Furthermore, half of the samples from the soles of the ICU medical staff shoes tested positive. Therefore, the soles of medical staff shoes might function as carriers,” the study reveals.
More than that, it has been discovered that the virus can survive on things and surfaces exposed to respiratory droplets days after the carrier has released them through coughing or sneezing. Factors such as temperature and type of surface can influence how long the virus lasts; for instance, on glass, fabric, metal, plastic, or paper, it can stay for two to three days.
Conclusion – Coronavirus Spread
The latest discoveries reiterate the importance of washing our hands and wearing face masks, even DIY ones, in public areas, especially closed ones, because the virus can linger and travel in the air more than it was initially believed. “When riding on more closed public transportation such as subways, cars, planes, etc, you should wear a mask all the time, and at the same time, minimize the contact between your hands and public areas, and avoid touching your face before cleaning,” advise the scientists involved in the study.
The authors of the study ‘Aerosol and Surface Distribution of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Hospital Wards, Wuhan, China, 2020’ show, however, that contamination is much higher in intensive care units than in other spaces, including other hospital units.
More information and advice regarding Coronavirus spread here:
- How to Make Your Own Face Mask at Home
- 9 Ways to Protect Your Skin from the Side Effects of Wearing a Face Mask!
- 5 Effective Ways to Avoid Coronavirus Outside Your Home
- Coronavirus in The United States – Latest Updates
Based on science: CDC, Â Academy of Military Medical Sciences in Beijing
