New study reveals Coronavirus (COVD-19) can travel up to 13 feet from patients

A recent study analyzing air samples from hospitals in patients with COVID-19 revealed that the virus can travel up to four meters (around 13 feet)- twice the distance current guidelines say people should leave between themselves in public.

Chinese researchers from Wuhan ,who tested surfaces and air samples from an ICU and general Corona ward, led by a team at the Academy of Military Medical Sciences in Beijing,  released the preliminary findings of the investigation on Friday (10^th April) in Emerging Infectious Diseases, a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) journal.

Researchers noticed the virus to be most highly concentrated on the wards floors and said a possible cause might be attributed to the gravity that carried the virus droplets to the ground. There were also high rates on regularly touched surfaces such as computer mice,  bed rails and door knobs

"Apart from that, half of the samples from the ICU medical staff shoes soles tested positive," the research team reported. " Hence, The soles of medical staff shoes may also act as carriers."

AIRBORNE DANGER?

The team also looked at aerosol transmission – where airborne virus containing particle linger in air for several hours rather than dropping to ground immediately after coughing or sneezing .

Researchers found that aerosols containing virus particles were primarily concentrated up to 13 feet near and downstream from patients — while smaller amounts were detected upstream, up to eight feet.

Fortunately, no hospital staff member was infected, "showing that adequate precautions could effectively prevent infection," the authors wrote.

They also offered advice that bucks orthodox guidelines: "Our findings suggest that home isolation of persons with suspected COVID-19 might not be a good control strategy" given the levels of environmental contamination.

Contrary to WHO, US health officials have taken a more cautious approach and advised people to cover their faces while out in public in the event that the virus may be spread through regular breathing and speaking.

Key words: COVD-19,Corona virus,aerosol transmission,Chinese study,ICU medical staff , staff shoes , social distancing redefined , face mask, CDC .