The National Technical Advisory Group for COVID-19 said that despite reports on emerging evidence on airborne transmission of Coronavirus there is no reason to panic.
Speaking in an interview with BBS yesterday Dr Tshokey, Clinical Microbiologist at JDWNRH said airborne transmission does not mean that the virus is moving freely in the air.
According to the World Health Organization, airborne transmission can occur during medical procedures that generate aerosols. Aerosols, which are smaller in size than droplets, can travel a little far than droplets and float in the air for some hours.
Dr Tshokey said, “This aerosol especially is highly risky when you are in a closed environment especially a small room without ventilation and if you are not wearing a mask in front of a sick person and you have not maintained physical distance. So far we have been promoting at least 1-meter distance but now we say at least 2 meters because aerosol travels up to 2 meters and more.”
According to a report by WHO, the WHO together with the scientific community is currently discussing and evaluating the possibility of airborne transmission in indoor settings with poor ventilation. This follows a submission made by over 200 scientists urging WHO to consider airborne transmission as one of the methods of COVID-19 transmission.
In a guidance recently issued by WHO, the organization stated that airborne transmission of COVID-19 in crowded, indoor locations with poor ventilation “cannot be ruled out”.
Rixin Jamtsho, Chief Programme Officer of the health ministry said there is nothing much to do differently. “Only thing we have not addressed in the past is the ventilation of rooms. For example, we have opened schools so they should keep their classrooms windows open while teaching. Other than that we request them to strengthen measures like physical distancing and handwashing.”
Besides practicing the existing precautionary measures, people are also asked to ensure proper ventilation and drink filtered or boiled water. Health officials also highlighted that people should follow health advisories.
Tshering Zam
