In-Detail
New study in Hyderabad and Mohali has found evidence that the risk of airborne transmission of the coronavirus is if maintained sufficient physical distance and avoiding prolonged interaction with an infected person.
Initially, the cause of COVID-19 was thought to be transmitted through contact and droplets during speech, coughs, or sneezes.
Later several studies reported transmission happened by sharing enclosed spaces like a closed room or vehicle.
This showed that there is a possibility of virus travelling through air to greater distances than two or three feet which was considered as the zone of risk.
The study was a joint collaboration between Scientists from the Centre of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad, and the Institute of Microbial Technology in Chandigarh.
The study conducted in the two cities found that the risk of exposure in closed rooms through airborne transmission was higher and in normal circumstances the virus was not found more than four feet from the infected person.
Researchers said that demarcating COVID and Non-COVID areas was a good strategy and masks were still very effective.