An investigation that analyzes the contagions of COVID-19 in different environmental conditions has concluded that singing, shouting and exercising, which occurs in gyms, nightclubs Y choirs are activities that involve greater exposure to infection. The study was published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.
The spread of COVID-19 occurs primarily through microdroplets (saliva or mucus) and aerosol sprays (microparticles emitted when exhaling that remain suspended in the air).
The research considered various risk factors that enable contagion, such as ventilation, aerosol generation rates, respiratory flow, mask quality, number of occupants in a room, and duration of exposure.
Although the study was based on the first outbreaks of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (until mid-2020), Trisha greenlagh one of the authors of the study, has updated on his twitter this risk of contagion with the omicron variant.
To date, omicron is the most transmissible variant of the pandemic coronavirus and a historical number of cases are already reported in the world. However, it also produces milder symptoms than other variants.
The update details that when activities that generate more aerosols – such as exercising, singing and shouting – are carried out in closed, poorly ventilated places and for a long time, the risk of contagion ranges between 83% and 99%. This occurs regardless of whether a mask is used and the capacity is low or high.
In the opposite case, if these activities are practiced in an open air and well ventilated environment, the risks are significantly lower (between 0.01% and 1.2% with masks; and between 0.04% and 3.4% without masks).
It should be noted that activities in open and ventilated places continue to be the safest to prevent contagion, especially when only talking (or being silent) and the time of interaction with others is minimal.
Source-larepublica.pe