Mounting evidence suggests coronavirus is airborne — but health advice has not caught up

Mounting evidence suggests coronavirus is airborne — but health advice has not caught up

As restrictions are lifted, many researchers worry that the risk of catching COVID-19 will go up in crowded indoor spaces. (Anthony Devlin/Getty)

Mounting evidence for airborne spread Evidence is building that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus can pass from person to person in tiny droplets called aerosols that waft through the air and accumulate over time. But this conclusion is not popular with some experts, because it contravenes evidence from decades of research into respiratory infections. On Monday, scientists urged authorities to acknowledge the potential for airborne transmission, in a commentary signed by 239 clinicians, infectious-disease physicians, epidemiologists, engineers and aerosol scientists. They also call for preventive measures to reduce this type of risk. In response, the World Health Organization will issue new guidelines about transmission in settings with close contact and poor ventilation. Nature | 12 min read Reference: Clinical Infectious Diseases paper