A great deal of research is being done to understand whether coronavirus can be spread through microscopic particles that come out of infected people and whether these stay in the air for hours.
Scientists are working with the World Health Organization to investigate how aerosols (airborne particles) act on the environment; if they can spread through air-conditioned rooms and how infectious they can be.
At the moment, experiments are being conducted on several species of rodents to assess whether the virus is spread through the air to hospitals or other high-risk environments.
In a letter published on Monday, 239 scientists signed and asked the WHO to highlight this risk, and shortly thereafter, the organization reacted by saying that it is not ruled out as a possibility, however evidence is needed.
The hypothesis was put forward after a high number of infections were reported in a Chinese restaurant, where direct or indirect contact of the people present was not proven. However, there is a need for other evidence, as in some countries, such as Switzerland, the lifting of restrictions and the return of people to restaurants and bars has not led to an increase in broadcasting.
Source: The Guardian
