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From: Anna Sjögren, Cecilia Benedelle
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The corona virus is not only transmitted through a droplet infection, it can also be transmitted through the air.
This is demonstrated by a study from the University Hospital of Uppsala, where the virus was found in the ventilation of an attic.
– Then it can also spread in the air in the room, says Erik Salaneck, infection doctor at the hospital, to SVT News.
The discovery was made in April, when the crown pandemic gripped Sweden. At that moment, two doctors from the hospital went up to an attic, away from the covid patients, to try to find traces of the virus. What they do, in an air filter.
– We found it here in the vent, which is very concerning. If it can get here, it can also spread through the air in the department, Erik Salaneck tells SVT Nyheter.
Found 60 meters away
Doctors also took samples from the ventilation drums and air vents in the rooms where Covid patients were being seen just over a week apart. The virus was found a few meters from the patients’ beds, in the ventilation openings in the ceiling and also inside the ventilation system. Viruses were found up to 60 meters from the places where the covid patients were staying, according to the UNT newspaper.
Photo: Fredrik Persson / TT
At Uppsala University Hospital, the virus was found in the ventilation of an attic.
To date, the coronavirus has been classified as a droplet infection, which means that it is transmitted through droplets that occur when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks, or exhales. The droplets can remain in the air for a time through so-called aerosols and thus there is a small risk of infection from the air.
But the findings from the Academic Hospital, now published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports, suggest that the virus may be transmitted through the air to a greater extent.
– If it were just a pure drip infection, with droplets falling to the ground, we wouldn’t find it in the attic, says Erik Salaneck, who is one of the researchers who conducted the study.
It’s in the air long enough
The researchers’ conclusion is that the virus is transmitted through the air in sufficient time to reach ventilation. And Erik Salaneck is not surprised.
– No, I’m not surprised. Many viruses, including Sars and Mers, have demonstrated this ability in some situations. Especially in situations of care with sick people who secrete a lot of viruses, it can be in the air, he tells Aftonbladet.
Although the virus the researchers found was neither active nor contagious, they believe the discovery is important.
– Many factors, such as dehydration, may have reduced the ability of the virus to infect during patient travel until we collect samples many hours later. We also know that infectivity in covid-19 is highest at the beginning of the infection, but those who were seen at the infection clinic had generally been ill long before they got there, Erik Salaneck tells UNT.
Tip: look at mouth guards
The discovery in the study is consistent with other previous studies according to Salaneck. And it’s important for how people must protect themselves from infection, says Erik Salaneck. He believes that Swedish advice and guidelines differ from other countries on this point.
– There are many things that we do well and well. We try to increase social distancing, but the difference is that others recommend mouth protection in social situations outside of healthcare. I think you have to keep looking at that. Our study is consistent with other studies. Among other things, it has been shown with computer models that it can spread in the air, Erik Salaneck tells Aftonbladet.
However, it does not mean whether or how you think the Swedish Public Health Agency should formulate its advice and guidelines.
– It can be said that the guidelines of the Public Health Agency differ from others. It is not our responsibility as researchers to design policy.
Photo: LOTTE FERNVALL
Anders Tegnell.
Tegnell: is an exception
Public health authority state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell doesn’t think the new study presents anything that prompts the authority to change its current assessment.
“There are exceptions, as with all infections, without a doubt, in special situations, it can cause an aerosol that can spread a little more, but cases in which the infection spreads through ventilation systems, etc. are not described. . as with real airborne infections, “Anders Tegnell writes in an email to SVT. News.
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