Is covid-19 a droplet infection or an airborne virus?

The issue divides researchers.

At the Swedish Public Health Agency, the virus is considered a droplet infection, but other research shows that the virus can actually travel longer distances.

Loud bars can be a risky environment

Malin Alsved is a researcher in aerosol technology at Lund University and has looked at how the virus moves in the air.

She is one of the researchers behind the acclaimed "singing study", which showed that loud singing can actually increase the spread of covid-19.

According to her research, the infection can actually move in the air, via small drops.

- We know that particles are mainly spread over short distances, but that it can be spread over long distances if you are in a closed environment with poor ventilation, for example, she says in SVT's Morgonstudion.

Noisy environment, dry air and many people who stay in the same place for a long time can be other factors that can cause the infection to spread in the air.

- If there is a lot of talk and singing, it can contribute.

Loud environments, such as a bar or places where you sing, can be called risky environments, she says.

Mouthguards can have an effect

The fact that the infection is airborne is usually an argument for wearing a face mask.

When you stay in cramped environments in, for example, public transport, a mouth guard can have an effect, says Malin Alsved.

- Mouth protection is good because we do not know who is infected.

If you have a mouth guard, you prevent both drops and aerosol from spreading.

You simply reduce the number of infected particles in the air.

However, the most important thing is still to keep your distance.

- It is effective for both drip and airborne infection.