Is coronavirus airborne? COVID-19 transmission

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Currently, organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) do not believe that the novel coronavirus is airborne. However, research into its transmission routes is ongoing.

SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, is one of many coronaviruses. These can cause illness in humans and animals, and they are highly contagious.

According to the WHO, the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and a dry cough. Learn more about the symptoms of COVID-19 here.

However, some people with the disease may not have any symptoms at all. It is essential to understand how coronavirus transmits from one person to another. This knowledge will help protect the vulnerable and limit the spread of the virus.

In this article, learn more about its potential transmission routes, including whether or not the virus is airborne.

Is SARS-CoV-2 airborne?
Researchers do not yet understand the extent to which the virus is airborne.

Virologists are still unsure about exactly how SARS-CoV-2 spreads. So far, they have been working from the knowledge they have of other coronaviruses, such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Experts tend to agree that coronaviruses are transmittable through the inhalation of droplets from a person who has the infection. Coughs and sneezes expel droplets from the body.

According to the WHO, these droplets are heavy enough that they cannot travel more than around 3 feet (1 meter). However, other research has found they can travel 23–27 feet (7–8 meters).

Airborne particles are much smaller than droplets and can linger in the air for longer. Air currents can also carry them longer distances. The measles virus, for example, can remain contagious in the air for up to 2 hours.

Airborne viruses are the most contagious. According to the WHO, SARS-CoV-2 is not airborne, but other experts seem to disagree.

How does it spread?
Most respiratory viruses are most contagious when a person has symptoms. However, there is growing evidence to suggest that the virus might also spread during the incubation period, before a person develops any symptoms.

The incubation period is the time that elapses between the virus entering the body and symptoms developing. Experts consider this to be between 2 and 14 days for SARS-CoV-2.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that the virus spreads:

between people who are within 6 feet (2 meters) of each other through respiratory droplets produced when a person with the infection coughs, sneezes, or talks when these droplets land in the mouth or nose of a person who is nearby It may also be possible for a person to contract SARS-CoV-2 by touching a surface that has contaminated droplets on it, then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.

The WHO say that coronaviruses can remain active on certain surfaces for a few hours or several days. This varies with different conditions, such as the type of surface, the temperature, and the humidity.

How to prevent it The WHO give the following recommendations for preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2:

Wash the hands regularly and thoroughly with an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water, for at least 20 seconds each time, to kill any particles on the hands. Stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from anyone who is coughing or sneezing, to prevent inhaling infected droplets.Avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth, as this can transfer the virus from the hands to the face.Cough or sneeze into a tissue, then dispose of it straight away. Stay at home if feeling unwell. If a person has a cough, fever, or difficulty breathing, they should seek medical attention by calling a doctor in advance. Follow state or government guidelines regarding safe working practices and staying at home. Wear a face mask in public places.
Healthcare professionals treating patients with COVID-19 are at greater risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2. They should follow official guidelines for how to protect themselves, such as by wearing personal protective equipment.

The WHO advise that people only need to wear a face mask if they are treating a person with COVID-19 or if they are coughing and sneezing. Masks are only effective when a person uses and disposes of them properly.

The CDC recently issued new guidance on the use of face masks for the general population. They advise using a cloth face covering in situations where physical distancing is difficult to maintain.

People can make face masks from common household fabrics. Proper surgical masks and N95 respirators should only be in use among healthcare professionals.

For most people, it is not necessary to use gloves to prevent coming into contact with infected particles. In fact, the WHO caution that wearing gloves for too long might mean that people do not wash their hands enough, which can lead to the spread of infected particles.

Evidence on obesity and COVID-19

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A summary of the evidence so far suggests that obesity is associated with a higher risk of developing severe symptoms and complications of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), independent of other illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease.

New research reviews the current evidence of a link between obesity and COVID-19 severity.
Early data seems to suggest that people with obesity are more likely to become severely ill due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

An increasing number of reports have linked obesity to coronavirus mortality, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now list severe obesity as a risk factor for severe COVID-19. The CDC define severe obesity as having a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above.

However, it is currently unclear exactly why obesity is associated with a more dangerous form of the disease.

Stay informed with live updates on the current COVID-19 outbreak and visit our coronavirus hub for more advice on prevention and treatment.

To shed light on the situation, a team of experts in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States have come together to review the evidence and clarify what we know so far.

Their findings are published in Nature Reviews Endocrinology.

The evidence so far The article summarizes the preliminary data available on obesity and COVID-19.

In China, where the outbreak began, data from 383 patients showed that having obesity was associated with a 142% higher risk of developing severe pneumonia associated with COVID-19.

A larger study of over 4,000 patients with COVID-19 in New York City found that severe obesity was a major risk factor for hospitalization, second only to age.

In Seattle, a study of critically ill COVID-19 patients made similar findings. This analysis found that 85% of patients with obesity required mechanical ventilation, compared to 64% of patients without the condition. Moreover, 62% of the patients with obesity died of COVID-19, compared with 36% of those without obesity.

However, it is important to note that this particular study included only 24 patients, all of whom were critically ill, making it difficult to draw far-reaching conclusions from the data.

The final study included in the analysis involved 124 patients in Lille, France, and also found that patients with obesity were more likely to require invasive mechanical ventilation.

Together, the evidence suggests obesity may be a significant risk factor for COVID-19.

As the lead author of the study, Dr. Norbert Stefan, of the German Center for Diabetes Research, explained to Medical News Today:

“We concluded that obesity may put people infected with the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) at a very high risk for a more severe COVID-19 illness and possibly risk of death.”

Why is obesity a risk factor?

Importantly, the risk appears to be independent of other illnesses, such as high blood pressure, that are more prevalent in people with obesity.

According to the study authors, one way that obesity might increase the risk of severe COVID-19 involves respiratory dysfunction.

People with obesity are more likely to have higher resistance in their airways, lower lung volumes, and weaker respiratory muscles, which are critical in the defense against COVID-19. These factors make an individual more likely to develop pneumonia, and they place additional stress on the heart.

Obesity is also associated with diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease, all of which likewise increase the risk of developing pneumonia.

Setting these issues aside, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and prediabetes could make people more susceptible to infection, the authors point out.

The connection between the makings of diabetes and COVID-19 appears to be particularly important.

“There is data emerging showing that hyperglycemia [high levels of glucose in the blood], even in the range where diabetes cannot be diagnosed, is a strong and independent predictor of a severe course of COVID-19,”.

Missing BMI data
While this research strongly suggests that people with obesity experience more risk associated with COVID-19, there are limitations to the analysis. First, most studies to date have not been peer-reviewed.

Also, many did not provide measurements of the patients’ weight or height, both of which are necessary to calculate BMI, a universal measure of obesity. BMI can also be used to estimate the percentage of body fat.

“Most of the articles that were published during the last 2 months reporting data about comorbid conditions, which may be associated with increased risk of severe COVID-19, did not provide data about body fat mass or metabolic health,” says Dr. Stefan. In particular, some studies from China and Lombardy, Italy — two of the worst-hit areas — did not provide weight or height data.

The authors emphasize that future studies should not only record BMI but also waist circumference, as well as levels of glucose and the hormone that regulates it, insulin. These measurements can help determine whether a person has insulin resistance or prediabetes, which may contribute to the higher risk of COVID-19 in people with obesity.

How do people cope with the pandemic? Survey reveals worrying trends

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A survey of 562 people in the United States helps reveal the emotional impact of the pandemic, suggesting that many turn to substances such as alcohol and marijuana to help them manage anxiety and depression.

A new survey suggests that a significant number of adults in the U.S. are using substances such as alcohol to cope with the pandemic. For many people, the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has profoundly altered their emotional landscape, and they feel the effects on a daily basis.

A survey from the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, has shed light on the ways in which people in the U.S. were dealing with quarantine and physical distancing in late March 2020.

The responses indicate that depression and anxiety are common and that people are coping with these issues in a range of ways.

Stay informed with live updates on the current COVID-19 outbreak and visit our coronavirus hub for more advice on prevention and treatment.

The university’s Parenting in Context Research Lab have published the findings online.

Overall reaction to the coronavirus The researchers conducted the 2-week survey through Prolific, an online survey tool.

They launched the survey on March 24, a week after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic and the White House released guidelines for response measures.

In total, the investigators surveyed 562 people aged 18 or older. Among the respondents, 52% had at least a bachelor’s degree, and the average age was 35. Household incomes ranged from $50,000 to $70,000, and 74% of the respondents reported that they currently had a romantic partner.

As for the ethnic makeup of the cohort, 74% of the participants identified as white, 9% as Hispanic, 8% as black, and 5% as Asian, while the remainder identified as “other.”

Overall, 1 in 4 survey respondents knew someone who had been tested for the virus, and 1 in 9 knew someone with a positive diagnosis.

Analysis indicated that 76% felt that concern about the new coronavirus was justified, while 13% felt that it was not. Yet 98% of all respondents said that they were physical distancing, and 82% reported being in lockdown.

A little more than half of those surveyed, 54%, said that their lives had been significantly disrupted by COVID-19.

The researchers asked the participants to choose three words that best described their attitudes towards the pandemic. “Anxious,” “nervous,” “scared,” “stressed,” and “uncertain” were those that came up most often.

Personal concerns expressed in the survey were more economic than medical in nature: 47% of respondents were worried that they could not afford to pay their bills, and 53% were worried that their finances would run out altogether.

Many experience depression and anxiety The researchers assessed the prevalence of clinical depression and anxiety among the participants using the PHQ-8 and GAD-7 scales, respectively — two recognized methods of assessing mental health problems — and found both conditions to be common among the respondents.

The percentage of participants reporting depression symptoms that occurred on “more than half” of days or “nearly every day” were as follows:

feeling tired or having little energy: 38%
having trouble falling asleep or sleeping too much: 36%
feeling down, depressed, or hopeless: 25%
having little interest or pleasure in activities: 23%
having a poor appetite or overeating: 26%
having trouble concentrating: 24%
having negative self-esteem: 21%
moving slowly or being fidgety: 8%.

Participants also reported symptoms consistent with anxiety, as follows:

43% said that they felt nervous, anxious, or on edge
37% felt that they worried too much
35% had trouble relaxing
31% said that they were easily annoyed or more irritable than usual
32% reported feeling afraid
36% were unable to stop worrying
17% felt restless.
Coping strategies?
The researchers categorized the coping mechanisms reported in the survey as positive or negative. Positive mechanisms were proactive actions to address difficult emotions, while negative mechanisms helped the person minimize or ignore difficult feelings.

As many as 89% of the participants reported positive responses, such as “taking action to make the situation better,” with 77% seeking out comfort and understanding from another person. Likewise, 84% of the respondents said that they invested time in being more productive, while 48% prayed or meditated to feel better.

On the other hand, 68% reported simply joking about the situation, 57% said that they made fun of it, and 47% turned their concerns into criticism of their own responses to the pandemic. The respondents also reported various forms of denial.

Alcohol and marijuana use occupied a separate section of the survey, and a significant number of respondents reported using these substances to feel better: 22% said that they had been using alcohol more, and 14%, about 1 in 7, said that they were using marijuana more.

Just under 6% of people who used marijuana medically reported increasing their intake.

A romantic partner emerged as one of the strongest sources of support: 71% of participants said that they were experiencing more emotional closeness with their partner due to the pandemic, while 58% reported more physical closeness.

However, almost 1 in 5 participants reported having more disagreements than usual with their partner during the pandemic. Among them, 15% reported an increase in verbal arguments, 2% reported more physical altercations, and 22% reported disagreements about the new coronavirus.

Should people take vitamin D to ward off the new coronavirus?

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Should people take vitamin D to ward off the new coronavirus?

A preliminary, unpublished study speculates that vitamin D deficiency may have something to do with poor COVID-19 outcomes. Its authors suggest people may benefit from ensuring they are getting enough vitamin D. However, there are serious concerns about the research.

A new study wonders whether vitamin D deficiency might play a role in COVID-19 outcomes. Vitamin D is one of the nutrients that are crucial to human health, on the whole.

The human body naturally synthesizes this vitamin — in fact, a group of substances — through adequate exposure to sunlight.

Only a few foods, such as egg yolks, can be a source of vitamin D, which means that people who have little access to sunlight may experience vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency.

Stay informed with live updates on the current COVID-19 outbreak and visit our coronavirus hub for more advice on prevention and treatment.

To prevent or address a lack of vitamin D, people can take vitamin D supplements under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

Inadequate levels of vitamin D can cause problems in the bones, as well as issues such as hair loss and joint pain.

Now, three researchers from the United Kingdom have put forward another idea: Could science link insufficient vitamin D with COVID-19 and, more specifically, COVID-19 deaths?

Dr. Petre Cristian Ilie, from The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation Trust in King’s Lynn, Dr. Simina Ștefănescu, from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, and Lee Smith, Ph.D., from Anglia Ruskin University in East Anglia present their preliminary study online in preprint form.

 

It may be safe, but is it really helpful?

In their study, the researchers first identified the mean levels of vitamin D for the inhabitants of 20 European countries.

They then looked at whether they could find any associations between these and data around the number of COVID-19 cases in each country, as well as the number of COVID-19 deaths.

The research team reports that, according to their observations, “the mean level of vitamin D in each country was strongly associated” both with a higher number of COVID-19 cases and with higher mortality due to the disease.

The investigators claim that countries such as Spain and Italy, which have among the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases in Europe, demonstrate low mean levels of vitamin D in blood in their populations.

Based on this association, the researchers hypothesize that vitamin D may help protect against contracting SARS-CoV-2 or experiencing severe outcomes after developing COVID-19.

In their online paper, they write: “In conclusion, we found significant relationships between vitamin D levels and the number COVID–19 cases and especially the mortality caused by this infection. The most vulnerable group of population for COVID–19 is also the one that has the most deficit in Vitamin D.”

 

“Vitamin D has already been shown to protect against acute respiratory infections, and it was shown to be safe. We believe that we can advise vitamin D supplementation to protect against COVID–19 infection.”

There are several fundamental concerns about the methods and conclusions in this paper, however. For instance, it is unclear how the researchers derived the average vitamin D level for each country.

The authors reference a paper in the European Journal of Endocrinology as their source of average vitamin D levels. Yet this paper has several values for some countries. It is also unclear if the authors calculated an average or selected one of the values. Crucial details about the methodology are missing.

Older people are at risk of having low vitamin D, for instance, due to reduced dietary intake of vitamin D and less time spent outdoors. They are also at greater risk of dying from COVID-19.

Older people may be dying of COVID-19 due to higher rates of other health conditions that are independent of their vitamin D levels.

That is not to say that vitamin D does not play a role in how likely a person is to contract the SARS-CoV-2 virus or die from COVID-19. More studies are needed to explore a possible link in greater depth.

Indeed, a team at The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine at the University of Oxford in the U.K. published a Rapid Review on vitamin D as a method to prevent or treat COVID-19 on May 1, 2020.

“We found no clinical evidence on vitamin D in COVID-19,” they write. “There was no evidence related to vitamin D deficiency predisposing to COVID-19, nor were there studies of supplementation for preventing or treating COVID-19.”

The authors of the current research note, themselves, that their study faced limitations, including the fact they had no clear way of verifying the true number of COVID-19 cases in each of the countries.

So, while it may be tempting to turn to an easily obtainable dietary supplement to help us keep SARS-CoV-2 at bay, it may be safer to hold off on the enthusiasm for now.

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