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Whats the difference between droplet and airborne transmission?
Jose A. Bernat Bacete/Getty Images
If youre infected with the virus, the droplets you release can contain some of the virus.
Droplets are larger-size particles that generally just fall to the ground or other surfaces once released from your body.
Measles and tuberculosis both spread via airborne transmission, which makes them particularly infectious and scary.
So the idea of the coronavirus spreading via aerosolized particles is a little terrifying.
Is it possible for the coronavirus to be airborne?
To be clear, experts still think the coronavirusspreads mainly via dropletsin the vast majority of cases.
But that doesnt mean it cantalsospread via aerosolized particles under the right circumstances, Dr. Khabbaza says.
Because aerosolized droplets are smaller, they contain less virus in them.
Health care professionals are already prepared for and protecting against airborne transmission when appropriate, Dr. Khabbaza says.
Perhaps youve seen headlines about finding viral RNA particles in the air inhospital roomsandeven in feces.
But finding those particles is not the same thing as finding live, infectious virus.
And just because someone with the virus expels aerosolized particles that doesnt mean those particles can actually infect you.
(In the case offeces, it seems like maybe yes, unfortunately.)
So what does this mean as some businesses open back up?
In practice, that will take some conscious effort for businesses and customers to actually accomplish.
They might also have to provide hand sanitizer or hand washing stations for customers and employees.
Also, smear samples from the air conditioner unit did not pick up any coronavirus RNA.
But the truth is that experts still think the main way it spreads is via droplets.
So that is something also that is reassuringit behaves like other respiratory viruses.
However, the risk for airborne transmission increases as you spend more time in enclosed spaces with other people.
So, as businesses and offices begin to reopen, it’s important to not let our guard down.
Update 5/26/2020: This story was edited after publication for clarity.
