239 Experts Claim The Coronavirus is Airborne, Urges WHO to Admit It

• The World Health Organization is still firm in its stand that the coronavirus is spread primarily via large respiratory droplets.
• More than 200 scientists have outlined proof that shows that smaller particles can also bring infection.
• W.H.O. maintains that the “evidence for the virus airborne is unconvincing.”

With most cities and countries opening up right in the middle of the pandemic in efforts to salvage their economies, the number of infected people are predicted to rise even more. And yes, this is not just because of the plain fact that people are slowly going back to offices, restaurants, bars, markets, casinos, and other public places.

Experts are actually claiming that the coronavirus is already airborne, something that the World Health Organization is not confirming just yet.

Number of infected cases are expected to rise as people head back outdoors.

So far, W.H.O is still firm in its stand that the virus is spread primarily via large respiratory droplets produced by coughs and sneezes.

The organization maintains that once the droplets are expelled, they fall rapidly to the floor.

However, 239 scientists in 32 countries believe otherwise. In an open letter to the organization, they outlined proof that shows that smaller particles can bring infection.

They are calling for the agency to make revisions on its recommendations and confirm that the coronavirus is indeed airborne.

If the virus being airborne is true, this means that masks should be worn even indoors and health care workers will need N95 masks that can serve as barrier for even the smallest respirator droplets.

This also means that the ventilation systems in homes, schools, businesses, and nursing homes will have to lessen the recirculating of air and install more powerful filters.

Ultraviolet lights can be used to destroy viral particles found in tiny droplets indoors.

As of its update on June 29, the W.H.O reported that airborne transmission is only possible only after procedures that produce droplets smaller than 5 microns, or by aerosols. N95 masks and proper ventilation are are only needed during those circumstances, they said.

The evidence for the virus airborne is unconvincing, according to Dr. Benedetta Allegranzi, W.H.O.’s technical lead on infection control.

“Especially in the last couple of months, we have been stating several times that we consider airborne transmission as possible but certainly not supported by solid or even clear evidence,” she said. “There is a strong debate on this.”

The scientists are planning to publish their letter in a scientific journal by next week. They do understand that the agency has to deal with shrinking budget and tricky political situations, especially with China and the United States.

Still, they stressed that the agency, especially the infection prevention and control committee, is limited by overly medicalized view of scientific evidence and that the committee is risk-averse and slow in updating its guidelines.