Covid-19 virus evolving to get better at becoming airborne: US study

The variants of SARSCoV2 are getting better at travelling through the air and people must wear tightfitting masks and ensure better ventilation in addition to getting vaccinated to help stop spread of the virus that causes Covid19 according to a studyThe team led by researchers at the University of Maryland in the US found that people infected with SARSCoV2 exhale infectious virus in their breath and those infected with the Alpha variant put 43 to 100 times more virus into the air than people infected with the original strains of the virusThe study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases also found that loosefitting cloth and surgical masks reduced the amount of virus that gets into the air around infected people by about halfOur latest study provides further evidence of the importance of airborne transmission said Don Milton professor at the University of Maryland School of Public HealthWe know that the Delta variant circulating now is even more contagious than the Alpha variant Our research indicates that the variants just keep getting better at travelling through the air so we must provide better ventilation and wear tightfitting masks in addition to vaccination to help stop spread of the virus Milton said The researchers noted that the amount of virus in the air coming from Alpha variant infections was much more 18times more than could be explained by the increased amounts of virus in nasal swabs and salivaAlso Read Menstrual changes after Covid19 vaccination plausible must be investigated StudyWe already knew that virus in saliva and nasal swabs was increased in Alpha variant infections said doctoral student Jianyu Lai one of the lead authors of the studyVirus from the nose and mouth might be transmitted by sprays of large droplets up close to an infected person But our study shows that the virus in exhaled aerosols is increasing even more Lai said The researchers said these major increases in airborne virus from Alpha infections occurred before the Delta variant arrived and indicate that the virus is evolving to be better at travelling through the airTo test whether face masks work in blocking the virus from being transmitted among people the study measured how much SARSCoV2 is breathed into the air and tested how much less virus people sick with Covid19 exhaled into the air after putting on a cloth or surgical maskFace coverings significantly reduced virusladen particles in the air around the person with Covid19 cutting the amount by about 50 per cent the researchers foundHowever the loosefitting cloth and surgical masks didnt stop infectious virus from getting into the air they saidThe takehome messages from this paper are that the coronavirus can be in your exhaled breath is getting better at being in your exhaled breath and using a mask reduces the chance of you breathing it on others Jennifer German a coauthor of the study saidThis means that a layered approach to control measures including improved ventilation increased filtration UV air sanitation and tightfitting masks in addition to vaccination is critical to protect people in publicfacing jobs and indoor spaces German addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever