Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

June 1, 2020

Small Droplet Aerosols in Poorly Ventilated Spaces and SARS-CoV-2 Transmission

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  • Somsen et al. use an experimental system with healthy volunteers to examine the number, size, and persistence of respiratory droplets produced during a cough, sneeze, and normal talking. Small droplets of the size potentially associated with aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 persisted up to 9 minutes. Increasing ventilation through mechanical systems and opening a door or a window substantially decreased the persistence of droplets. These findings support improving ventilation for public spaces to clear potentially infectious aerosols  

Somsen et al. (May 27, 2020). Small Droplet Aerosols in Poorly Ventilated Spaces and SARS-CoV-2 Transmission. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30245-9