New COVID-19 study reveals social distancing alone ineffective to restrict spread of virus

COVID-19 airborne transmission is possible at a short distance, according to a new study, implying that social distancing alone is ineffective in restricting its spre, reinforcing significance of vaccination and face masks. dispersion of droplets when people cough was quantified by a team of engineers from University of Cambridge using computer modelling. According to study, researchers discovered that in absence of masks, a person infected with COVID-19 can infect anor person at a two-metre distance even when outside. Individual coughs vary widely, according to researchers, and a so-called safe distance may have been established anywhere from one to three or more metres, depending on risk tolerance of a particular public health authority.

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), contributed to study. findings imply that social distancing is ineffective as a mitigation strategy on its own, and emphasise necessity for vaccination, ventilation, and masks, particularly in coming winter months. Despite early pandemic's focus on handwashing and surface cleaning, it's been evident for over two years that COVID-19 spres through airborne transmission. Coughing, speaking, or even breathing, when infected people expel bigger droplets that settle or smaller aerosols that float in air, can spre infection.

Fluid mechanics experts act as bridge between virology of emitter and receiver

Dr. Shrey Trivedi, Indian-origin first author of study published in journal Physics of Fluids this week, explained that virology plays a role in how sickness spres. But, according to him, re's also fluid mechanics to consider, such as what happens to droplets after y've been evacuated, which is where researchers come in. As fluid mechanics experts, y act as a link between virology of emitter and virology of receiver, and y may assist with risk assessment, according to Trivedi.

According to study, when a person coughs without a mask on, majority of bigger droplets land on nearby surfaces. Smaller droplets hanging in air, on or hand, can swiftly and reily spre beyond two metres. quality of room's airflow will determine how far and how soon se aerosols spre. re is a lot of variation in individual coughs, in dition to variables surrounding mask-wearing and ventilation. According to researchers, while two-metre rule is an effective and easy-to-remember public safety message, given enormous number of factors connected with an airborne virus, it is not a guarantee of safety. While vaccination, ventilation, and masks are not 100% effective, y are critical in containing infection. researchers are continuing ir work with comparable simulations for settings like lecture halls, which can help assess danger as people spend more time indoors.

(With inputs from agencies)

Image: AP