One of the scariest things I’ve read in recent times is a study titled Investigation of Community Outbreaks of Sars-CoV-2 Transmission Among Bus Passengers in East China, published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) Internal Medicine. According to this study, conducted by researchers from the US and China, 23 of 67 passengers who took a 100-minute round-trip by bus (in January, in Zhejiang, in eastern China) to attend an event After 150 minutes, they were infected by passenger number 68. on the bus (who did not know he was infected). Some of those who attended the event (and were not on the bus) were also infected, and all said they had been in close contact with the so-called index patient. The researchers found that those on the bus were around 40 times more likely to have been infected than 60 others (none infected) on another bus attending the same event (bringing a completely different perspective to the great Ken quote. Kesey: “you are either on the bus or off the bus”).
- A study by researchers from the US and China showed that 23 of 67 passengers who took a 100-minute round trip by bus to attend an event were infected by passenger 68 of the bus. The bus was air-conditioned and in internal circulation mode. And although there were high-risk and low-risk areas, there was no appreciable difference in the chances of infection for those sitting in them, a clear indication of airborne transmission of the virus.
The bus was air-conditioned and in internal circulation mode. And although there were high-risk and low-risk areas, there was no appreciable difference in the chances of infection of those sitting in them, a clear indication of airborne transmission of the Sars-CoV2 virus, especially in an enclosed area where the air is recirculating. The virus attack rate on the bus was about 34%, the researchers found, although people sitting near the door and the only window that could be opened were not infected.
The study was released on Tuesday, the day before India’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs released guidelines for the resumption of 15 Metro services across the country (13 of them will go live; two, one in Mumbai and one in Mumbai). the other in Nagpur, both in the state of Maharashtra, which continues to be ravaged by the virus, will not.) It is not just the Metro; many offices have been opened; as they have several shopping centers; and some restaurants and gyms. The challenge before everyone has two dimensions, all derived from the fact that when the facilities (including buses and Metro stations) were designed, emphasis was placed on optimizing space to accommodate the greatest number of people. Additionally, modern office and shopping malls worked hard to create social spaces where people could mingle.
- The first challenge for Metros and modern offices is social distancing. It is not very difficult to make sure that the coaches do not get crowded, but the stations are another matter. The second challenge is the one presented by the air conditioning. Most modern offices do not have openable windows and rely on air conditioning to maintain temperature and air circulation.
The first challenge is social distancing. It is not very difficult to make sure that the coaches do not get crowded, but the stations are another matter. HT reported last week that while Delhi buses adhere to the limit of 20 per bus (generally) required by Covid-19 related social distancing regulations, the stops are crowded, with people waiting for a long time and then pushing himself onto the bus before it reaches capacity. According to another report on HT, Metro officials will monitor stations via CCTV and order trains to skip crowded stations, an exceptionally well-thought-out solution that assumes that the waiting crowd will disperse silently and in a socially distanced manner. and disciplined, instead of continuing. wait for the next train.
The second challenge is the one presented by the air conditioning. Most modern offices do not have openable windows and rely on air conditioning to maintain temperature and air circulation. That is also true for shopping malls and subway stations. The coaches are air-conditioned, simply because many meters run underground. Experts say that with the right type of filtration and circulation systems and settings, airborne transmission of the virus can be controlled.
Ultimately, it all comes down to risk, return, and the absence of options (many people who take buses and the Metro during the pandemic do not do so by choice).
P.S: In a move with significant political undertones, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told all states on Wednesday that they should be ready to store, distribute and administer a vaccine to those on the front lines. of the fight against Covid-19, and other vulnerable groups. The communication mentioned two candidate vaccines without naming them, although the New York Times said the specifications match those being tested by Pfizer and Moderna. There are three vaccines in Phase 3 (or Phase2 / 3 combined) trials in the US: Moderna’s, Pfizer / BioNTech SE’s, and Oxford-AstraZeneca’s.
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