Identifying Airborne Transmission as the Dominant Route for the Spread of COVID-19

Zhang, Renyi; Li, Yixin; Zhang, Annie L.; Wang, Yuan; Molina, Mario J.

doi:10.4324/9781003141402-3

Cited by 209 publications

(234 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…These results are in line with previous experimental studies where infection via airborne SARS-CoV-2 or influenza A virus was more efficient than infection through contaminated environmental surfaces [14,15]. In humans, the relative importance of each transmission route remains unclear, but the general consensus is that the principal mode of infection is via respiratory droplets and that the relative risk of fomite transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is considered low compared with direct contact, droplet transmission, or airborne transmission [16][17][18][19][20]. Our experimental data is in line with human epidemiological case studies which show that in closed spaces airborne transmission is highly efficient [21][22][23].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Prior aerosol infection with lineage A SARS-CoV-2 variant protects hamsters from disease, but not reinfection with B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2 variant

Yinda

Port

Bushmaker

et al. 2021

Emerging Microbes & Infections

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The circulation of SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in the emergence of variants of concern (VOCs). It is currently unclear whether previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 provides protection against reinfection with VOCs.Here, we show that low dose aerosol exposure to hCoV-19/human/USA/WA-CDC-WA1/2020 (WA1, lineage A), resulted in a productive mild infection. In contrast, low dose of SARS-CoV-2 via fomites did not result in productive infection in the majority of exposed hamsters and these animals remained nonseroconverted. After recovery, hamsters were re-exposed to hCoV-19/South African/KRISP-K005325/2020 (VOC B.1.351) via an intranasal challenge. Seroconverted rechallenged animals did not lose weight and shed virus for 3 days. They had little infectious virus and no pathology in the lungs. In contrast, shedding, weight loss and extensive pulmonary pathology caused by B.1.351 replication was observed in the non-seroconverted animals. The rechallenged seroconverted animals did not transmit virus to naïve sentinels via direct contact transmission, in contrast to the non-seroconverted animals. Reinfection with B.1.351 triggered an anamnestic response that boosted not only neutralizing titers against lineage A, but also titers against B.1.351. Our results confirm that aerosol exposure is a more efficient infection route than fomite exposure. Furthermore, initial infection with SARS-CoV-2 lineage A does not prevent heterologous reinfection with B.1.351 but prevents disease and onward transmission. These data suggest that previous SARS-CoV-2 exposure induces partial protective immunity. The reinfection generated a broadly neutralizing humoral response capable of effectively neutralizing B.1.351 while maintaining its ability to neutralize the virus to which the initial response was directed against.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Prior aerosol infection with lineage A SARS-CoV-2 variant protects hamsters from disease, but not reinfection with B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2 variant

Yinda

Port

Bushmaker

et al. 2021

Emerging Microbes & Infections

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“…Hot weather may result in fewer people wearing face masks. Recent studies show that the combination of using face covers, keeping a physical distance between individuals, and washing hands is the most effective and cost-saving strategy in the battle against COVID-19 [25]. The asymptomatic transmission between two people can be reduced significantly from 100% if no one wears a face mask to ∼ 1.5% if everyone wears a face mask.…”

Section: Impacts Of Social Distancingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of people’s learning behavior in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic

Cheng

Wang

2020

Preprint

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This work presents a mathematical model that captures time-dependent social-distancing effects and presents examples of the consequences of relaxing social-distancing restrictions in the fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic. Without social distancing, the spread of COVID-19 will grow exponentially, but social distancing and people's learning behavior (isolating, staying at home, wearing face masks, washing hands, restricting the size and frequency of group gatherings, etc.) can significantly impede the epidemic spread, flatten the infection curve, and change the final outcome of the COVID-19 outbreak. Our results demonstrate that strict social distancing and people's learning behavior can be effective in slowing the spread rate and significantly reducing the total number of infections, daily infection rate, peak of daily infections, and duration of the epidemic. Under strict social distancing, the rise and fall of infections would be nearly symmetric about the peak of of daily infections, and the epidemic spread would be essentially over within 60 days. Relaxing social distancing and people learning behaviors will significantly increase the total and daily numbers of infections and prolong the course of the outbreak. These results have immediate applications for the implementation of various social-distancing policies and general significance for ongoing outbreaks and similar infectious disease epidemics in the future.

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“…As institutions and communities began to reopen following closures, rules requiring the use of face masks or face coverings were enacted in many areas [12][13][14][15]. However, some communities have thus far chosen to leave the use of face masks to individual choice [5,6].…”

confidence: 99%

“…In severe cases, patients have developed potentially fatal pneumonia, septic shock, metabolic acidosis, and coagulation dysfunction [2]. In the absence of a proven treatment or vaccine, the primary recommendations to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 have been social distancing, recognition through testing, contact tracing, enhanced hygiene precautions, and face coverings [3][4][5][6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attitudes Toward and Usage of Face Masks or Face Coverings Among Certified Athletic Trainers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020

RISM

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Following the widespread transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the majority of colleges and high schools canceled all face-to-face courses and athletic activities. As institutions allowed for athletes to return to campus, many institutions and government entities enacted requirements for the use of face masks or face coverings in public. Current research is being conducted to evaluate the epidemiology, recognition, treatment, and prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 , the disease associated with SARS-CoV-2. At the time of this study, there is no published research on attitudes toward and usage of face masks or face coverings among certified athletic trainers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to describe these attitudes toward face masks or face coverings and usage in this context. A total of 265 certified athletic trainers participated in this study (age= 42 ± 12, years of certified experience = 18 ± 11). An electronic survey was sent to these participants via email to collect demographic information and assess their attitudes toward and usage of face masks or face coverings. Data was downloaded and analyzed using a commercially available statistics package. The overwhelming majority of certified athletic trainers in this study, agreed on some level, the use of face masks to mitigate the transmission of SARS-CoV2 was strongly supported by the available evidence (Strongly Agree = 55.8%, Agree = 26.4%, Somewhat Agree = 9.4%). Most athletic trainers also reported that their institutions currently had mandates in place requiring face masks during patient encounters and coworker interactions (Patient Encounters = 66.4%, Coworker Interactions = 57.4%). Most athletic trainers reported wearing face masks the majority of the time when entering public spaces outside of work. Athletic trainers cited influence of their personal use of face masks, was for personal health, health of those in their household, and attempting to be a role model of best practices for public health. The findings of this study suggest a majority of athletic trainers are wearing face masks or face coverings, even when not actively involved in patient care or other aspects of their jobs

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Identifying Airborne Transmission as the Dominant Route for the Spread of COVID-19

Cited by 209 publications

References 15 publications

Prior aerosol infection with lineage A SARS-CoV-2 variant protects hamsters from disease, but not reinfection with B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2 variant

Prior aerosol infection with lineage A SARS-CoV-2 variant protects hamsters from disease, but not reinfection with B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2 variant

Impacts of people’s learning behavior in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic

Attitudes Toward and Usage of Face Masks or Face Coverings Among Certified Athletic Trainers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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