Coronavirus researchers warn 2-metre distance rule may not be far enough

The broadly accepted distance of 2 metres (6 feet) may not be enough to stop transmission of the

new coronavirus, with just a light wind able to spread infected droplets between people while outdoors, according to a new study.

Public health officials in many countries may need to reconsider their safety guidelines – which usually consist of social distancing and wearing a mask – after the publication on Tuesday of the research paper in the journal Physics of Fluids.

Authors Talib Dbouk and Dimitris Drikakis, from the University of Nicosia in Cyprus, found 2 metres was a safe approximate distance in still conditions, with droplets taking about 15 seconds to fall below human waist level. However, they found that “when a person coughs, the wind speed in an open space environment significantly influences the distance that airborne disease-carrier droplets travel”…

 

 

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Coronavirus researchers warn 2-metre distance rule may not be far enough | South China Morning Post

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