• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

Study: Coronavirus droplets can last for 30 minutes in the air and travel further than the “safe distance”

by S.Ling
11/03/2020
in Current Affairs, Health
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0

A study from a group of official researchers from Hunan province found that the respiratory droplets of coronavirus (Covid-19) can linger in the air for at least 30 minutes and travel up to 4.5 metres.

The findings challenged the advice from the health authorities around the world saying that people should stay apart at a “safe distance” of one to two metres to avoid contracting the virus.

According to the study, the coronavirus droplets, which can last for days on surfaces, have different lingering time based on factors such as temperature and the type of surface. For example, the virus can last for two to three days on glass, fabric, metal, plastic, or paper at around 37°c.

If an unsuspecting person touches the surface and then rubs their face and hands, the risk of transmission is higher, the study said while adding that the virus could survive more than five days in human faeces or bodily fluids.

Highlighting that the virus can linger in the air and attach to fine droplets or particles, the study also acknowledged that washing hands and wearing a mask in public place is important.

The researchers published the paper in peer-review journal Practical Preventive Medicine last Friday (6 March) based on the study on a local outbreak case of coronavirus on 22 Jan during the peak Lunar New Year travel season, reported by South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Researchers explain how the virus is transmitted

The researchers said that the outbreak case involved a patient zero who had infected 13 passengers while travelling on a fully booked long-distance 48-seater bus.

Noting that the outbreak case happened before China declared the coronavirus as a national crisis, patient zero, who was already sick did not wear a mask, nor did most of the other passengers and driver on the bus.

Based on the security camera footage installed in the bus where windows were all closed, the study’s lead author who works for the Hunan Provincial Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, Hu Shixong, said that patient zero sat on the second row from the back and did not have any interaction with other passengers throughout the four-hour ride.

However, before the bus stopped at the next city, the virus had already transmitted from patient zero to seven other passengers, who all later tested positive for the coronavirus, including one passenger who did not display any symptoms.

The infected passengers included people who sat relatively close to the patient as well as a couple of passengers sitting six rows away – about 4.5 metres away from the patient.

A passenger who boarded the bus 30 minutes after these passengers got off from the bus was also infected with the coronavirus. As explained by Mr Hu, this passenger who did not wear a mask could have inhaled aerosols or tiny particles exhaled out by the infected passengers from the previous group.

At the same time, patient zero later boarded a minibus and travelled for another hour, infecting two more passengers sitting 4.5 metres away from him.

From the case study, the researchers cautioned that the virus could remain afloat even after the carrier has left the bus.

“It can be confirmed that in a closed environment with air-conditioning, the transmission distance of the new coronavirus will exceed the commonly recognised safe distance,” the researchers wrote in the paper.

They added, “The possible reason is that in a completely enclosed space, the airflow is mainly driven by the hot air generated by the air conditioning. The rise of the hot air can transport the virus-laden droplets to a greater distance.”

People should wear face mask all the time in public, said researchers

Despite the transmission distance, the researchers also advised people to wear a face mask all the way as they discovered that the passengers in the two buses who wore a face mask were not infected with the coronavirus.

They remarked, “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, minimise the contact between your hands and public areas, and avoid touching your face before cleaning.”

The sanitation on public transport should be improved, such as cleaning and disinfecting the interiors once or twice a day, especially after passengers arrive at the terminal, said the researchers.

The researchers also suggested adjusting the air conditioning to maximise the volume of fresh air supplied in public transport.

However, there is also uncertainty in this study where passengers who sit immediately next to patient zero were not infected with coronavirus though they have a higher risk of exposure to the virus in the air.

Doubting the credibility of the study, a doctor in Beijing involved in diagnosing and treating Covid-19 patients told SCMP that some questions have not been answered in the study. He added, “Our knowledge about this virus’s transmission is still limited.”

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

Level of unemployment in Indonesia shows failure in the Job Creation Law, says KSPI
Indonesia

Level of unemployment in Indonesia shows failure in the Job Creation Law, says KSPI

02/02/2023
Commentaries

The Keppel bribery scandal tests Singapore’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption

02/02/2023
Singapore Law Watch removes commentary on CPIB’s decision to not prosecute former Keppel executives
Singapore

Singapore Law Watch removes commentary on CPIB’s decision to not prosecute former Keppel executives

02/02/2023
US businesses ‘fear internet curbs in Hong Kong’
AFP

Hong Kong offers free flights after COVID isolation

02/02/2023
Why is Gautam Adani’s Indian empire in turmoil?
AFP

Why is Gautam Adani’s Indian empire in turmoil?

02/02/2023
India’s Adani shares plunge again after stock sale cancelled
AFP

India’s Adani empire loses more than US$100 bn after fraud claims

02/02/2023
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

Level of unemployment in Indonesia shows failure in the Job Creation Law, says KSPI

Level of unemployment in Indonesia shows failure in the Job Creation Law, says KSPI

02/02/2023

The Keppel bribery scandal tests Singapore’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption

02/02/2023
Singapore Law Watch removes commentary on CPIB’s decision to not prosecute former Keppel executives

Singapore Law Watch removes commentary on CPIB’s decision to not prosecute former Keppel executives

02/02/2023
US businesses ‘fear internet curbs in Hong Kong’

Hong Kong offers free flights after COVID isolation

02/02/2023
Why is Gautam Adani’s Indian empire in turmoil?

Why is Gautam Adani’s Indian empire in turmoil?

02/02/2023
India’s Adani shares plunge again after stock sale cancelled

India’s Adani empire loses more than US$100 bn after fraud claims

02/02/2023
Former political prisoners calls for abolishment of ISA and apology from PAP Govt on 60th anniversary of Operation Coldstore

Former political prisoners calls for abolishment of ISA and apology from PAP Govt on 60th anniversary of Operation Coldstore

02/02/2023
Indian state picks new capital after kicking out Singapore consortium

Indian state picks new capital after kicking out Singapore consortium

02/02/2023

Trending posts

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
25

...

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

by Yee Loon
26/01/2023
24

...

Two Indian nationals paid about S$330 and S$730 respectively for forged certificates submitted in their S-Pass application

MOM found issuing EPs meant for foreign PMETs to PRC waitress and general worker

by Correspondent
26/01/2023
41

...

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

by Augustine Low
01/02/2023
33

...

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

by The Online Citizen
26/01/2023
59

...

Indian rupee falls 60% since signing of CECA while Singapore becomes top investor in India

by Correspondent
25/01/2023
69

...

March 2020
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Feb   Apr »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz