Small droplet aerosols in poorly ventilated spaces and SARS-CoV-2 transmission

Type Journal Article Author G. Aernout Somsen Author Cees van Rijn Author Stefan Kooij Author Reinout A Bem Author Daniel Bonn URL https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lanres/PIIS2213-2600(20)30245-9.pdf Series Comment Publication The Lancet Respiratory Medicine Date 27/05/2020 DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30245-9 Abstract Commentwww.thelancet.com/respiratory Published online May 27, 2020 https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30245-91Small droplet aerosols in poorly ventilated spaces and SARS-CoV-2 transmissionGlobally, health-care authorities are searching for effective measures to prevent community transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although data on factors related to this transmission are scarce, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 is thought to mostly be via the transmission of respiratory droplets coming from infected individuals.1 Small droplets, from submicron to approximately 10 μm diameter, produced during speech and coughing, have been shown to contain viral particles,2 which can remain viable and infectious in aerosols for 3 h.3 The droplets can be transmitted either directly by entering the airway through the air (aerosols),4 or indirectly by contact transfer via contaminated hands. The mode of transmission could affect whether an infection starts in the upper or lower respiratory tract, which is thought to affect the severity of the disease progression.5Notably, the dose–response relationship of SARS-CoV-2 infection is still unclear, especially with respect to aerosol transmission of the virus. However, aerosols containing a small concentration of virus in poorly ventilated spaces, combined with low humidity and high temperature,6might result inan infectious dose over time.