September 21, 2020

Viable SARS-CoV-2 in the Air of a Hospital Room with COVID-19 Patients

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Transmission

Keywords (Tags): transmission

• Lednicky et al. reported the detection of viable SARS-CoV-2 in air samples collected 2 to 4.8 m away from 2 hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The genome sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 strain isolated from air samplers was identical to that isolated from the newly admitted patient. The authors conclude that aerosols generated by patients with respiratory manifestations of COVID-19 may serve as a source of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. [EDITORIAL NOTE: This manuscript was previously summarized as a pre-print on August 12, 2020].

Lednicky et al. (Sept 15, 2020). Viable SARS-CoV-2 in the Air of a Hospital Room with COVID-19 Patients. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2020.09.025