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Old 06-22-2020 | 05:14 AM
  #590  
Duffman
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Further update, this was posted by Johns Hopkins on 3 Jun:
https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkin...9__SARS_CoV_2_

It indicates the virus largely spreads by fomites and droplets, not aerosols. The difference between droplets and aerosols is basically size. Aerosols are extremely hard to trap and would mean the virus could readily spread through HVAC systems, aircraft, air currents, etc. Droplets are much larger, basically "say it don't spray it." I should point out that droplets can still be very very small and can linger in the air for an hour or so after they've been released (the smaller the droplet the slower the terminal velocity).

As long as someone's mouth is covered when they talk, cough, or sneeze, even a cloth mask could trap droplets. Furthermore, this reduces the amount of fomites they leave behind, which are viruses that are released in a droplet, fall on a surface and live there until you touch them, touch your face, and infect yourself. This could explain why even cloth masks are shown to be more effective with COVID19 than other viruses.

I wouldn't take the "key takeaway actions" from any study or report as gold right now, because it could be completely altered tomorrow when another study brings more game-changing data, but it does help bring the overall picture into better focus and highlights the importance of at least covering your mouth with a mask, proper hand washing, and not touching your face. Furthermore, if this is true, it means aircraft are a safe way to travel as long as people don't have long conversations with each other without masks. It wouldn't surprise me if, in the near future, airlines add into their standard PAs that unnecessary conversation should be avoided.

Last edited by Duffman; 06-22-2020 at 05:36 AM.
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