Over the last few days, there have been a lot of confusing statements made by the newscasters in describing the “how” Covid-19 infection is transmitted.
Unfortunately, the newscasters do not differentiate between a “lay person definition” and a “medical definition”, leading to the confusion. In this time of crisis and anxiety, we need to be very careful with the terms we use. As I repeatedly tell my students and residents, “words matter.”
So, buckle up, and get ready for a technical discussion of a mundane topic!
First, here are some “definitions”:
- Aerosols and droplets:
- These are particles which are “floating” in the air
- Defined as particles that are <100 μm (micrometers) in diameter and are not visible to the naked eye
- When they are greater than 5 μm in diameter, these particles are “too heavy” to remain floating in the air for any length of time, and rapidly fall to the ground
- When they are smaller than 5 μm in diameter, these particles are “not heavy”, and remain floating in the air for a short amount of time, and very slowly fall to the ground
- Airborne
- These particles are also smaller than 5 μm in diameter
- These particles are so small, and so “light” that they remain floating in the air for an extended period of time
- While floating in the air, they can travel a greater distance
- Infectious droplets:
- Defined as larger infectious particles (>5 μm in diameter) that rapidly fall out of the air
- Such droplets are not usually dispersed through the air.
- Once they fall “out of the air”, they land on a surface.
- When one touches the surface, the infection can spread.
- Such a spread can be prevented by wearing gloves, and changing gloves in-between patient contacts.
- Infectious aerosols:
- Defined as small particles (<5 μm in diameter)
- Since they are so small and “light”, they are suspended in the air for a brief amount of time
- An example of an “aerosol” is a “sneeze” or “cough”
- If you happen to have a respiratory infection, and then sneeze, the infectious particles are “blown” out with the sneeze, and “suspended” in the air for a short amount of time
- These infectious particles can disperse throughout the air and environment and, while they are floating in the air, they remain infectious for a short amount of time
- After a brief amount of time, these particles will slowly fall to the ground
- Since the “sneeze” or “cough” is associated with “air being forced out of your mouth / nose”, these particles can travel a short distance and remain infectious
- If these particles are inhaled by a bystander, it can lead to the transmission of the infection
- Covid-19:
- The Covid-19 virus is approximately 0.5 to 1.0 μm (micrometers)
- Since Covid-19 is so small, it remains aerosolized for an unknown period of time
- While the virus is “floating” in the air, a light wind can push it further away from the person that sneezed or coughed
- The duration of time that Covid-19 remains aerosolized is NOT yet known
- If (AND THIS IS A BIG IF), these aerosolized infectious Covid particles remain in the air for an extended period of time, then the infection is considered to be an “airborne pathogen”
- If someone sneezes, these “airborne” Covid viruses remain in the air, and float around with the wind
- Such a “floating” Covid can then infect another person who might be hundreds of feet away, or potentially miles away from the initial infected person
- This is NOT yet proven, but only hypothesized
- Since it is not yet known whether Covid can be “airborne”, as of March 31, 2020, the WHO has stated that Covid-19 is NOT an airborne pathogen
- Obviously, with further scientific data, this classification can change
OK – got thru another confusing topic.
Stay safe!
- Sudhir S. Athni, MD
