From: Robin M. Izzo <rmizzo**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] COVID19 spread question
Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2020 14:32:54 +0000
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID: EEC1A7A7-7F82-40A0-94E3-D7673646996B**At_Symbol_Here**princeton.edu
In-Reply-To


There are a few interesting articles, but none firmly show that aerosol transmission is a significant means for spreading disease. It's similar to fomite transmission - yes, it is possible, but it likely accounts for less than 10% of cases.

Aerosol and Surface Stability of SARS-CoV-2 as Compared to SARS-CoV-1
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2004973

The above article is one stating that SARS-CoV-2 remains viable in air as an aerosol for up to 3 hours. It does not state that this is a means of transmission.

Transmission Potential of SARS-CoV-2 in Viral Shedding Observed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.23.20039446v2.full.pdf

The above article is a pre-print that has not been fully peer-reviewed. It suggests viable virus in aerosol, but does not conclude that it is a significant means of transmission.

You might also find this White Paper produced by Taylor Engineering interesting:
https://taylorengineers.com/taylor-engineering-covid-19-whitepaper

Best,
Robin

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Executive Director
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2020 Chair, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
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she/her/hers

•ČŔOn 6/16/20, 9:09 AM, "ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety on behalf of David Roberts" wrote:

Hello,

OK - I know where this might go, but I‰??m asking that people give nice, honest answers here and don‰??t judge or rant. I honestly need somebody to tell me why we all are saying that we need to worry about aerosol transmission when it comes to Covid-19. My friend worked at the CDC, and is quite knowledgeable on the subject. She was in Africa during the first Ebola crisis, and knows a bit about transmission and such. She feels that it‰??s truly just a droplet transmission thing (big difference - one can be mitigated by social distancing, the other needs to deal with room ventilation considerations).

I need evidence stating that somebody has done the experiment on room air to show that the virus is in the air for 3 hours, and it increases over time if you have somebody infected sitting and breathing in the room. Does anybody have a paper on this that isn‰??t one of assumption and conjecture but has actual data with measurements.

Are we all saying aerosol when we mean droplets? The CDC website only says droplets - there is no indication that aerosol transmission is a viable way for this virus to transmit, according to the CDC.

My friend has a theory that if it was truly an aerosol transmission that we would see way more cases. Doesn‰??t think the virus can live in an aerosol - thinks it may dry up and become non-viable.

I see two different things when I read online about what you need to worry about. One is saying it‰??s aerosolized and lives 3 hours in air - that‰??s what she is questioning. Why do we say this? Is that from a 1950s reference or is there real evidence here for this situation??? The other is droplet transmission, which I feel is a true threat and worry with this virus. Droplet transmission can be easily mitigated by social distance, hygiene, and mask wearing. Droplets have some mass and thus don‰??t really float around in the air so much. Aerosol is much more difficult and scary.

Thanks.

Dave

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