Hundreds of scientists say there is
evidence that the novel coronavirus in smaller particles in the
air can infect people and are calling for the World Health
Organization to revise recommendations, the New York Times
reported on Saturday.
The WHO has said the coronavirus disease spreads primarily
from person to person through small droplets from the nose or
mouth, which are expelled when a person with Covid-19 coughs,
sneezes or speaks.
In an open letter to the agency, which the researchers plan
to publish in a scientific journal next week, 239 scientists in
32 countries outlined the evidence showing smaller particles can
infect people, the NYT said.
"We are aware of the article and are reviewing its contents
with our technical experts," WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said
in an email reply to a Reuters request for comment.
Whether carried by large droplets that zoom through the air
after a sneeze, or by much smaller exhaled droplets that may
glide the length of a room, the coronavirus is borne through air
and can infect people when inhaled, the scientists said,
according to the NYT.
However, the health agency said the evidence for the virus
being airborne was not convincing, according to the NYT.
"Especially in the last couple of months, we have been
stating several times that we consider airborne transmission as
possible but certainly not supported by solid or even clear
evidence," Dr. Benedetta Allegranzi, the WHO's technical lead of
infection prevention and control, was quoted as saying by the
NYT.