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It is known that the coronavirus can spread by air. However, scientists are still researching how long it can survive in such conditions and how long it remains contagious. This gives an answer to the question of when we are most at risk of infection and how to protect ourselves. Scientists from the Aerosol Research Center in Bristol have just published their discoveries. According to «The Guardian», they conducted the world’s first simulations of how the virus survives in the exhaled air. As it turned out?
- Scientists from the Bristol Aerosol Research Center conducted the world’s first simulations of how long the virus survives in exhaled air
- In order to conduct experiments, a special apparatus was created. The device can generate any number of virus-containing particles and at the same time strictly control temperature, humidity and UV radiation
- Coronavirus in the air loses 90% the ability to infect us within 20 minutes. The greatest decrease in infectivity occurs in the first five minutes
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus can be spread by airborne droplets when infectious particles (transmitted through coughing, sneezing, talking, even breathing) come into direct contact with the eyes, nose or mouth. Infection can also occur when the pathogen present in the air is inhaled from a short distance (so-called short-range air transmission). Coronavirus is also known to spread in poorly ventilated and / or crowded rooms. This is because aerosols can remain suspended in the air or travel with it (known as long-range airborne transmission).
The question of when (for how long and under what circumstances) the virus is most dangerous for us (the highest risk of infection) is still being asked in the world of science. Further SARS-CoV-2 mutations are prompting research in this area.
The experiments in this area were conducted by scientists from the Bristol Aerosol Research Center – BARC. The main author of the study and BARC director prof. Jonathan Reid recalls the findings of scientists from the USA. According to them, infectious virus can still be detected three hours after transmission. However, Reid believes that the experiments did not exactly match what happens when we cough or breathe. Researchers from the University of Bristol developed a device that could generate any number of tiny particles containing viruses and gently float them between two electric rings, tightly controlling temperature, light intensity, etc. This made it possible to recreate what happens with the aerosol during the exhalation process . As it turned out?
The study of British scientists has not yet been reviewed. Nevertheless, the same phenomena were observed in all tested SARS-CoV-2 variants. It turned out that the pathogen present in the air within 20 minutes. loses 90 percent its ability to infect us, with most of the loss occurring within the first five minutes. Unfortunately, the research has not yet covered the Omikron mutation – experiments are planned in the coming weeks.
Here are the detailed findings of the Bristol researchers. Tests have shown that when virus particles leave the relatively humid and carbon dioxide-rich environment in the lungs, they quickly lose water and dry out, and the pH of the pathogen changes. These factors interfere with the virus’s ability to infect human cells, with the rate of drying of SARS-CoV-2 particles being dependent on the relative humidity of the surrounding air.
When the humidity was less than 50 percent (similar to air in many offices), within 5 sec. the virus was losing about half of its infectivity. After 5 min. it fell by another 19 percent. With a humidity of up to 90 percent. (similar to a steam bath) within 5 min. the pathogen was 48 percent. less contagious, after 20 min. its infectivity dropped to 10 percent. Tests showed that the air temperature had no effect on the infectivity of the virus, which contradicts the belief that transmission is lower at high temperatures.
«Risk of infection is greatest when you are close to an infected person»
These findings highlight the importance of short-range SARS-CoV-2 transmission. – I think that the greatest risk of infection is still when you are close to an infected person – says Prof. Jonathan Reid. – When you move away, not only is the aerosol diluted, but the pathogen in it is also less contagious [as time passes] (…) This means that if I am meeting my friends for lunch, the main [risk] will probably be that I pass the pathogen to my friends, but I will not pass it to people on the other side of the premises – explains prof. Reid. As the scientist points out, this shows how important distance and wearing masks are.
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University of Leicester clinical virologist Dr. Julian Tang said the findings confirm what epidemiologists have already observed “in the field”. The scientist reminds us that “masks are very effective … and so is social distancing.” Better ventilation will also help ». The importance of the latter is also underlined by virology from the University of Leeds, Dr. Stephen Griffin: – In the absence of adequate ventilation, aerosols fill rooms quickly. Assuming the infected person remains in such a room, the virus level will then be replenished.
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