Corona Virus spreads more indoors, establishes study | Hyderabad News
Researchers analysed the Coronavirus’ genome from air samples collected from different areas occupied by Covid-19 patients in hospitals, closed rooms and houses of home-quarantined patients. They found that the virus could be frequently detected in air around Covid-19 patients. The positivity rate increased with the number of patients present in the premise.
CCMB scientists found the virus in ICU as well as non-ICU sections of hospitals, suggesting that patients shed the virus in air irrespective of the severity of infection. The study also found viable coronavirus in air that could infect living cells, and the virus could spread over a long distance. Scientists suggest wearing masks to avoid the spread of Coronavirus.
Dr Shivranjani Moharir, a scientist involved in the study, said, “Our results show that Coronavirus can stay in the air for some time in the absence of ventilation in closed spaces. We find that the positivity rate of finding the virus in air was 75% when two or more Covid-19 patients were present in a room, in contrast to 15.8% when one or no Covid-19 patients occupied the room in these studies.”
“As we are back to conducting in-person activities, air surveillance is a useful means to predict infection potential of a spaces like classrooms, meeting halls. This can help refine strategies to control the spread of infections,” said Dr Rakesh Mishra, former director CCMB.
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