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In the new study, published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, a journal published by the US. USA The researchers found that coronaviruses, Sars-Cov-2, can spread up to four feet (13 feet) from patients.
This is interesting because it is twice the recommended distance that people should have from each other in public, writes the AFP news agency.
Shoe soles and floors
The hospital departments, where the researchers conducted their tests, housed a total of 24 patients during the period of February 19 and March 2.
They found that the highest concentrations of the coronavirus were found on the hospital floors.
Large concentrations were also found on frequently affected surfaces such as computer mice, trash cans, bed frames, and door handles.
The researchers also found the corona virus in half of the samples from shoe soles to healthcare professionals.
Therefore, they point out that footwear can act as a carrier of the virus.
Three conclusions
Chinese researchers themselves draw the following three conclusions based on their findings:
1) Sars-Cov-2 is widely distributed in the air and on object surfaces in both the intensive care unit and the regular department of covid-19. This carries a potentially high risk of infection for medical personnel and other close contacts with patients.
2) Virus contamination is greater in the intensive care unit than in the regular hospital ward. Therefore, medical personnel working in the intensive care unit must implement stricter protection measures.
3) The so-called aerosol distribution properties of the coronavirus in a regular hospital ward indicate that the transmission distance of the virus can be four meters. However, the researchers emphasize that the small amounts of viruses they found at this distance are not necessarily contagious.
– Does not necessarily increase the risk
Deputy Director of Health Espen Rostrup Nakstad of the Health Directorate says intensive research is underway in several countries to identify the properties of Sars-Cov-2, the virus that causes covid-19.
– One of the things being studied is how far the virus droplets spread by harboring and sneezing before hitting the ground, the so-called droplet infection. It also maps to what extent viruses spread through small liquid particles (aerosols) in connection with special airway procedures in intensive care units, says Nakstad.
He notes that infection control authorities in most countries, including the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) in Norway, have recommended at least two meters away to avoid contamination by drops among people who stay close to time.
This is also recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
– Although several studies, like this one, have shown that some virus droplets can reach more than two meters before touching the ground, it does not mean that a safety distance of two meters necessarily implies an increased risk of infection. This is also highlighted by the authors of this study, says Nakstad.
Can cause changes
However, the Health Summit believes that new insights into this may lead to the need for changes in Norwegian infection control councils.
– Therefore, there is a continuous evaluation of these questions under the auspices of the knowledge summaries of the National Institute of Public Health, says Nakstad.
In the case of so-called aerosol generation procedures in relation to intensive care and respiratory management, a higher level of protection is recommended in Norway than in the case of drop contamination, the so-called “air pollution regime” , with respiratory protection adapted to protect health personnel from infection, said the Directorate of Health.
– The knowledge base for this is also continuously monitored by Norwegian health authorities, says Espen Rostrup Nakstad.
Do you want to argue?
