Advertisement

Airborne Transmission Of The Covid-19 Virus Not Definitive But Cannot Be Ruled Out : WHO

This is the first time the WHO has acknowledged the possibility of the deadly virus spreading through air.

Airborne Transmission Of The Covid-19 Virus Not Definitive But Cannot Be Ruled Out : WHO
SHARES

The World Health Organization (WHO) has finally acknowledged that there is "emerging evidence" of the novel coronavirus being airborne. This comes after 239 scientists from 32 countries wrote an open letter to urge the global body to acknowledge the virus being airborne and revise its guidelines. The researchers have claimed that the virus can spread by tiny particles suspended in the air. 

The WHO had previously denied that the virus was airborne stating there was little to no evidence regarding the matter. But at the briefing in Geneva on Tuesday, WHO’s technical lead for infection prevention and control, Benedetta Allegranzi said that there was "emerging evidence" of the airborne transmission of the coronavirus but it was not “definitive”. She stated that the possibility of transmission through the air in crowded or closed places cannot be ruled out. However, she further claimed at the briefing that "the evidence needs to be gathered and interpreted, and we continue to support this."  

At the briefing, the WHO also said that the spread of the virus is increasing worldwide and that the death toll could accelerate in the future. In the months of April and May, the WHO was dealing with nearly 1 lakh cases per day. Now that number has shot up to 2 lakh cases a day.   

From the beginning of the pandemic, the WHO emphasized on the evidence that the virus is transmitted through droplets emitted when people cough or sneeze on a surface rather than through air. If proper evidence is gathered and proved in the near future that the virus is indeed airborne, the current guidelines of the WHO will need to be revised since most of the governments follow and rely on them. 

 

Read this story in हिंदी
RELATED TOPICS
Advertisement
MumbaiLive would like to send you latest news updates