Coronavirus FAQs: Why Can’t The CDC Make Up Its Mind About Airborne Transmission?

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Shanti Hands for NPR

Researchers say airborne transmission is possible, especially in cramped indoor settings, but it’s unclear how much it contributes to the spread. Here’s how to lower your risks, just in case.

Video by Maxwell Posner and Ben de la Cruz/NPR; Animation by Shanti Hands for NPR.
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It means keeping that physical distance of six feet — and then thinking beyond it. «Masks and ventilation and filtration, says Marr, can go a long way in «getting a better control on the spread of the virus.

First, that recommended six feet of distance between you and others allows more air to pass between you, helping to dispel any clouds of virus that get released. It reduces the risk that one of you will breathe in an infectious dose.

Second, wear a face mask that covers your nose and mouth. It blocks the spray of spit and breath you expel, and also affords some protection from other people’s exhalations. Unlike N95 masks, which form a seal on your face, a typical cloth or surgical mask isn’t foolproof against aerosols — but Jimniez says that they offer reasonable protection, particularly when combined with other precautions.

«If you are outdoors with distance and with a mask that is well-fit, I would say it’s extremely difficult to get the disease that way, Jiminez says.

If you do spend time indoors with others, work to improve the airflow and ventilation in the room. «We need to address ventilation in all of our public buildings, especially places like schools and restaurants, says Marr. «This can be as simple as opening doors and windows, it can be adjusting dampers and the HVAC system so that you bring in more outdoor air.

Air filters, which can be used to purify the air in a room, may help as well, she says. «There are simple things we can do to greatly improve ventilation in buildings that are not necessarily costly.

In most settings, these potential virus clouds can be dispersed with a light breeze and some fresh, clean air.

For more information about aerosols, read an FAQ explainer assembled by Marr, Jiminez and colleagues.