A Science and Technology Blog
While in-flight transmission of novel coronavirus among passengers is considered to be low, three studies have found instances where coronavirus transmission had probably taken place in-flight. The spread has probably become possible as mask wearing was not compulsory early in the pandemic. But thermal imaging, which has been in place since the beginning, has been found wanting.
On September 18, CDC revised its guidelines to acknowledge that the “main way” the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) spreads is through aerosols. It also for the first time mentions that virus can spread through breathing, stay suspended in air and travel to distances beyond six feet.
Universal mask wearing decreases the chance of infection and, if infected, decreases the amount of virus particles (inoculum) a mask-wearer is exposed to thus causing only asymptomatic infection or mild COVID-19 disease.
While fitted N95 masks allowed zero droplets to pass through, the three-layered surgical masks too performed very well with 0-10% droplet transmission. N95 masks with exhalation valve fared poorly. Double-layered…
While there is a clear case for ‘immunity passports’ with some restrictions for people who have recovered from COVID-19, the issue of handing out such certificates is an ethical minefield.…
Vigilant mask wearing by two hair stylists working at a salon in Springfield, Missouri in the U.S. and all the 139 clients they served in mid-May helped prevent the spread…
An observational study of 120 babies found no transmission of novel coronavirus from infected mothers to newborns up to 14 days even when breastfed and when babies and mother were…
If WHO, CDC and the U.S. Surgeon General were equally responsible for the public health message disaster of discouraging mask use by the public to cut the transmission risk of…
