Hundreds of scientists say they have found evidence that the corona virus emerging in smaller air particles can infect humans, the New York Times reported yesterday, adding that they are calling on the WHO to review its guidance.
The WHO said that the virus is mainly transmitted from one person to another through small droplets that come out of the infected person's nose or mouth when speaking, coughing or sneezing.
The newspaper reported that 239 scientists from 32 countries submitted in an open letter to the organization intending to publish it in a scientific journal next week, evidence that the small particles of the virus are capable of infecting humans.
The WHO has not responded to a Reuters request for comment yet.
The scientists said that the air carries the virus and transmits the infection to humans when inhaled, whether it is carried by large droplets of spray that travel quickly in the air after sneezing or much smaller drops that fly to the last point in a room.
But the organization said the evidence that the virus could be transmitted through the air was not convincing.
"In the past two months in particular, we have repeatedly emphasized that we consider transmission of the infection through the air as possible, but this is not certainly supported by concrete or even clear evidence," Dr. New Benedetta Algranzi, WHO's chief technical infection prevention expert, was quoted by The New York Times as saying.
239 scientists from 32 countries confirm: the Corona virus is in the air
2020-07-06T18:30:12.615Z
Hundreds of scientists say they have concluded evidence that the corona virus emerging in smaller air particles can infect humans, the New York Times reported yesterday, adding that they are calling on the WHO to review its guidance. The WHO said the virus is spreading
Source: emara