COVID loses infection capacity after 20 minutes in the air

The coronavirus loses most of its ability to infect shortly after being exhaled and is less likely to be contagious over longer distances, a study from the Center for Aerosol Research at the University of Bristol has shown.

The researchers found that the virus loses 90% of its contagiousness 20 minutes after being in the air and that most of that loss occurs in the first five minutes of being in contact with the air, according to the study, which simulates how the virus behaves after exhaling.

With countries like Spain and Switzerland opening the debate in Europe about an endemic phase of the virus, information on how the virus travels through the air will help guide containment measures.

The results of this study, which has not been peer-reviewed, reinforce the notion that the virus is mainly transmitted over short distances, providing new support for social distancing and the use of masks as a means of curbing infections.

“When you walk away, not only is the aerosol diluted, there is also less infectious virus because the virus has lost infectivity [como resultado del tiempo]Jonathan Reid, director of the research center, said in an interview with the Guardian, which first reported on the study on Tuesday.

The findings indicate that viral particles dry out quickly after leaving the moist, carbon dioxide-rich environment of the lungs, slowing their ability to infect other people.

Air humidity was found to be a determining factor in how quickly these particles deactivate, as they deactivated slower in showers than in offices.

At humidity levels below 50%, similar to the dry air found in offices, the virus lost half its ability to spread in five seconds.

When the humidity rose to 90%, similar to levels in showers, the virus lost infectivity more slowly, with more than half of the particles still contagious after five minutes, the study showed.

Air temperature, the study says, had no impact on virus infectivity.