6 votes

Erin Bromage, PHD examines the risks of coronavirus exposure in different environments and settings

Posted by Omnicrola
Tags: coronaviruses.covid19, epidemiology, virology, pandemics, erin bromage, long read
https://www.erinbromage.com/post/the-risks-know-them-avoid-them

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Title
The Risks - Know Them - Avoid Them
Published
May 6 2020
Word count
3097 words

2 comments

  1. Omnicrola
    Link
    About the author: ... ...

    About the author:

    I am a Comparative Immunologist and Professor of Biology (specializing in Immunology) at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. I balance Teaching, Research and Public Service (that is, when we are allowed in our labs).

    ...

    some estimate that as few as 1000 SARS-CoV2 viral particles are needed for an infection to take hold. Please note, this still needs to be determined experimentally, but we can use that number to demonstrate how infection can occur. Infection could occur, through 1000 viral particles you receive in one breath or from one eye-rub, or 100 viral particles inhaled with each breath over 10 breaths, or 10 viral particles with 100 breaths. Each of these situations can lead to an infection.

    ...

    Social distancing rules are really to protect you with brief exposures or outdoor exposures. In these situations there is not enough time to achieve the infectious viral load when you are standing 6 feet apart or where wind and the infinite outdoor space for viral dilution reduces viral load. The effects of sunlight, heat, and humidity on viral survival, all serve to minimize the risk to everyone when outside.

    1 vote
  2. nothis
    Link
    It's good to hear numbers to get a feel for the proportions but I'm at a point where all COVID-19 expert blog posts sound near identical. Most infections seem to be from asymptomatic carriers,...

    It's good to hear numbers to get a feel for the proportions but I'm at a point where all COVID-19 expert blog posts sound near identical.

    Most infections seem to be from asymptomatic carriers, infecting people who spent more than a few minutes in the same room, even when spread fairly far from each other. Coughing and sneezing is obviously bad but mere breathing is enough when spending enough time together. Outdoors, the risk is comparably low.

    1 vote