Hundreds of experts say COVID-19 is airborne, urge WHO to revise recommendations

Guwahati: Scientists across the world are now claiming that there is evidence to suggest that the novel coronavirus, the 7th to affect humans, in smaller particles can travel through the air and infect humans, The New York Times reported on Sunday. These scientists who believe that the disease is airborne number in the hundreds, are calling for the World Health Organization to revise recommendations.

239 scientists in 32 countries, in an open letter to the agency, outlined evidence that suggests smaller particles can infect people. According to the WHO, the COVID-19 disease spreads primarily from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, which are expelled when a person with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, or speaks.

The scientists stated that the coronavirus is borne through air and can infect people when inhaled -- whether carried by large droplets that zoom through the air after a sneeze, or by much smaller exhaled droplets that may glide the length of a room

Meanwhile, the WHO has said that the virus being airborne in smaller particles is "not convincing", and the agency is yet to comment on the recent findings.

Dr. Benedetta Allegranzi, the WHO's technical lead of infection prevention and control, has said that although the agency considers airborne transmission as possible, it is not supported by "solid or even clear evidence."

Meanwhile, the respiratory illness has infected 11,559,215 people and killed over 536,787 people worldwide. The USA, with 2,982,928 infections, is by far the worst-affected country.

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