Music in the time of COVID-19

Abstract

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything" said Plato the great philosopher. In the current time of COVID-19 pandemic encompassing the world, music has lost its stage and has become confined to the virtual sphere. Though many of its connoisseurs are eagerly waiting for musical performances to resume, it poses a greater threat of creating an infection cluster through virus particles emitted from a possibly infected singer. Various experiments have estimated particle emission rates by performers during vocalization activities. Simulations have also measured time course of emitted particles in a closed environment leading to the infection spread. In this mini review we attempt to compile and interpret available information and assess that possible impact a musical performance can play in spreading the infection.