Coronavirus spread could become airborne in restaurants, gyms and other closed spaces – WHO

The World Health Organization has released a new guidance suggesting that the novel coronavirus may become airborne in certain environments.

The new guidance refused to rule out the possibility that the coronavirus can be transmitted through air particles in closed spaces indoors, including in gyms and restaurants.

The WHO previously acknowledged that the virus may become airborne in certain environments, such as during “medical procedures that generate aerosols,” CNBC reports.

“In these events, short-range aerosol transmission, particularly in specific indoor locations, such as crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces over a prolonged period of time with infected persons cannot be ruled out,” the United Nations health agency’s new guidance said.

Airborne transmission of the coronavirus could occur if virus-carrying droplets “generate microscopic aerosols” by evaporating, the WHO said, or if “normal breathing and talking results in exhaled aerosols.” In theory, the WHO said someone could inhale the aerosols and become infected. But it remains unknown, the WHO said, if such aerosols would actually carry enough viable virus to cause infection.

The WHO said it is further researching the role of different modes of spread, including by air, as well as how much virus is required to potentially infect someone and what kinds of environments create greater risk for spread.

The new guidance comes after 239 scientists from 32 different countries published an open letter earlier this week calling for the WHO and other health authorities to update their information on the coronavirus.

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