Chinese scientists have warned that from a distance of a meter is not a safe distance to prevent infection with the Corona virus, as is common and advised by the citizens, as they found that corona flying away from one meter and can stay in space for about 30 minutes.
The researchers stressed the importance of wearing face masks because of the long period in which the virus is in the air.
A study by a group of Chinese government epidemiologists, published in the Journal of Practical Preventive Medicine and the South China Morning Post, stated that the coronavirus that causes Covid 19 can stay in the air for at least 30 minutes and fly up to 4.5 meters, that is, further It is the "safe distance" recommended by health authorities around the world.
More seriously, researchers have also found that this virus can live for several days on a surface where respiratory drops fall, which increases the risk of transmission if healthy people touch it and then rub their faces. The length of time the virus can survive on the surface depends on factors such as temperature and surface type, for example at about 37 ° C (98 ° F), that can last for two to three days, whether on glass, cloth, metal, plastic, or paper. According to several reports.
The researchers based their work on the local disease outbreak on January 22 during the height of the travel season to celebrate the Lunar New Year, and the arrival of a passenger called (A), who boarded a long-distance bus fully booked and settled in the second row from behind.
Ho Xixiong, the principal investigator for the study who works at the Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that security camera footage showed that Patient A did not interact with others during the four-hour journey, but as the bus stopped in the next city, The virus actually jumped from the carrier to seven other passengers, and the passenger actually felt sick at that point, but that was before China announced the coronary virus outbreak of a national crisis, so A did not wear a mask, and most other passengers or the driver was not arranged on board. The bus has 48 seats. After these passengers left, another group boarded the bus after about 30 minutes. One of the passengers sitting in the front row on the other side of the corridor was infected. The researchers also found that none of the passengers who wore face masks were injured on the other two buses.
The study concluded that «when riding closed public transport such as the subway, cars, airplanes, etc., you must wear the mask all the time, as well as, reduce your hands’ contact with public places, and avoid touching your face.
The researchers suggested adjusting air conditioning in public transport to increase the volume of fresh air.