Loading video.
VIDEO: Animation video of the instantaneous simulation results of saliva plume concentration contours (in volume fraction) during normal breathing shown on the sagittal plane without wearing a mask. Considering a threshold. view more
Credit: Ali Khosronejad
WASHINGTON, June 9, 2021 The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control recommend keeping a certain distance between people to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These social distancing recommendations are estimated from a variety of studies, but further research about the precise mechanism of virus transport from one person to another is still needed.
In
Physics of Fluids, by AIP Publishing, researchers from Stony Brook University, Harvard, ETH Zurich, and Hanyang University demonstrate normal breathing indoors without a mask can transport saliva droplets capable of carrying virus particles to a distance of 2.2 meters, or 7.2 feet, in a matter of 90 seconds.