New CDC guidance says COVID-19 can spread through airborne transmission

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

As AN members wisely surmised due to virulence infection in many families.

Wonder how many at SCOTUS nomination that came up positive also attended indoor reception??  Karen

 

CNN 10/05/2020

New CDC guidance says COVID-19 can spread through air

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The CDC has updated its guidance on COVID-19 transmission to note that the novel coronavirus can spread through small particles in the air and could pass between people who are more than 6 feet apart in enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces. However, infection is more likely to occur by way of respiratory droplets and with closer contact, according to the guidelines....

 

CDC Advice

COVID-19 can sometimes be spread by airborne transmission

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Some infections can be spread by exposure to virus in small droplets and particles that can linger in the air for minutes to hours. These viruses may be able to infect people who are further than 6 feet away from the person who is infected or after that person has left the space.

This kind of spread is referred to as airborne transmission and is an important way that infections like tuberculosis, measles, and chicken pox are spread.

There is evidence that under certain conditions, people with COVID-19 seem to have infected others who were more than 6 feet away. These transmissions occurred within enclosed spaces that had inadequate ventilation. Sometimes the infected person was breathing heavily, for example while singing or exercising.

Under these circumstances, scientists believe that the amount of infectious smaller droplet and particles produced by the people with COVID-19 became concentrated enough to spread the virus to other people. The people who were infected were in the same space during the same time or shortly after the person with COVID-19 had left.

Available data indicate that it is much more common for the virus that causes COVID-19 to spread through close contact with a person who has COVID-19 than through airborne transmission. [1]

 

[NewRN'16, ADN, RN]

Of course it's airborne. 

Odd that so many have been in denial for so long. 

[macawake, MSN]

19 hours ago, NRSKarenRN said:

As AN members wisely surmised due to virulence infection in many families.

Wonder how many at SCOTUS nomination that came up positive also attended indoor reception??  Karen

 

CNN 10/05/2020

New CDC guidance says COVID-19 can spread through air

 

CDC Advice

COVID-19 can sometimes be spread by airborne transmission

 

Thank you for posting this ? 
 

I don’t really consider this ”new” information, but more of a clarification of what we know is true about many respiratory viruses. So what exactly are they saying? 

 

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There is evidence that under certain conditions, people with COVID-19 seem to have infected others who were more than six feet away. 

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These transmissions occurred within enclosed spaces that had inadequate ventilation. 

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Under these circumstances, scientists believe that the amount of smaller infectious droplets and particles produced by people with COVID-19 became concentrated enough to spread the virus to other people. 

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Available data indicates that it is MUCH MORE COMMON for the virus that causes COVID-19 to spread through CLOSE CONTACT with a person who has COVID-19 than through airborne transmission. 

(My bold and hollering ?)

I think we’ve known, or at the very least suspected this is possible for some time. However, I think it’s important to remember that it’s contact/droplet transmission, that is the main mode of transmission. 
 

I think that following the guidelines to minimize spread is extremely important. But the negative stress of believing that every individual within say, a 20 feet radius or any empty room you enter, poses a serious health risk, is also a threat to people’s health and mental wellbeing. I think we need to find a balance between being cautious and making smart and considerate choices, without going into full panic mode. 
 

Yep, I’m going to get off my soapbox now ?

 

 

(Edited to add: I’d also like to know how many attended the indoor  reception. But I must say, from what I saw of their behavior outdoors, many of them probably did enough damage right there on the lawn. I saw people shaking hands. I saw people hugging. I saw people lean in real close to other people’s faces (like inches between noses-close) to have private conversations. Not a care in the world by the look of it...)).