No Need To Panic Over Coronavirus Being 'Airborne', Wear Mask For Longer: Expert

The world is living in a state of panic as everyone is following safety guidelines to ensure that they do not get infected with coronavirus.

The World Health Organisation said that "emerging evidence" suggests that the virus may be airborne. There was panic as people wondered whether the precautions currently being taken are enough.

To clarify things, an expert has recently said that people do not need to panic over the findings. He clarified that the studies cited by a group of over 200 researchers have said that the virus can be ¡°at least temporarily¡± airborne, and it does not mean that the virus is all around us and will infect everyone.

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Reuters (Representational image)

DG, CSIR, Rakesh Mishra has said that keeping in mind the latest developments about the possibility of the virus being temporarily airborne, people should wear a mask for a longer period of time and continue to take other precautions such as social distancing.

The letter sent by over 200 scientists to WHO in this regard was based on two studies, he further said.

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Reuters (Dr Rakesh Mishra)

"Those are good studies. Based on that, what is being communicated to WHO is that the virus can be at least temporarily airborne, which means it can travel in droplets of smaller size less than five microns which will mean that it will be hanging in the air for longer than bigger droplet which settles down in a few minutes," he told PTI.

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Reuters

Mr Mishra said that it means that when someone speaks or breathes, and is infected with the virus, the virus is likely to stay in the air for some time. This is why people should wear a mask for longer, even when a person has left a room or when to go to a place where someone potentially infected may have been around.

"But, at the moment, there will not be, as far as I see, any major change in guidelines except a few modifications like this and there is no particular need to be stressed or panic that the virus is flying all over the place and it will be infecting everyone," Mishra said.

Earlier this week, reports of 239 scientists from 32 nations writing to WHO about the coronavirus being airborne came to light. This was contradictory to WHO's stand that the coronavirus can only spread from cough and sneeze droplets of an infected person. The scientists highlighted the evidence showing that small particles can infect people, and asked the UN agency to revise its recommendations.

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Mishra said the research findings were effective as they would help in finding more ways to plan and protect against the virus.

"Otherwise, there is no major change that has to come (in precautions)," he said.

They can continue to take the same precautions, but masks should be worn for a longer time, he said.

Precautions to take

1. Maintain physical distance

2. Avoiding rooms where multiple people are present, especially those lacking aeration such as AC rooms,

3. Avoid gathering in closed spaces

4. Wear a face mask at all times while outside

5. Wash your hands regularly and properly with soap and water

Saying that the virus is only six-months-old, Mishra said that it would be too early to say that we know enough about the virus. However, whatever we know will help in treating infected patients, he added.