The new 13 foot circle of spread and good news about protection of healthcare workers
A newly released study from Wuhan China looked at how far the virus spreads with exhalation and coughing.
They found that the “virus circle” was up to 13 feet when the infected person was coughing. Particles eventually do fall to the floor, but the smallest of particles may travel farther based on the air currents in the room. The virus is also very easily spread by shoes and foot traffic. They found that 100% of samples from their pharmacy floor was positive for the virus, even though no one in the pharmacy had been ill, and it was not located near anyone ill.
The other good news is that the standard protective gear worn by healthcare workers prevented them from getting ill.
Should you dry your hands after washing with paper or that air dryer?
Remember going to the airport or some other business, and in the restroom there is a paper towel dispenser and an air blower for drying your hands? After washing your hands, then came that stressful moment when you had to decide which one to use. Well worry no more about getting stressed over that decision! Research due to be presented at this year’s now-cancelled European Infectious Disease Conference shows that paper significantly wins out at preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses after hand washing onto surrounding surfaces.
Lack of virus mutation so far (good news!)
As of the end of March, research had not shown any significant mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This is good news for the development of a vaccine, because the current vaccine development should be valid for some time. This is in contrast to the influenza virus, where different strains wander around the world constantly, necessitating a new vaccine each year.
The 275 ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19
St. Catherine’s College in Cambridge has organized a biosecurity hub and published a list of 275 ways of preventing the spread of COVID-19. The post is entitled Informing management of lockdowns and a phased return to normality: a Solution Scan of non-pharmaceutical options to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission (that’s some title!). And yes, I actually did read the whole thing. I found it a work of meticulous thinkers examining this topic from every imaginable angle and found it useful and fascinating in that regard.
It has some good pieces of information for policy makers as well as the rest of us. Much of it boils down to the now general understanding that any form of interaction between humans and objects in the environment can be a source of getting this infection (or for that matter virtually any infection).
Donating plasma
The FDA has a site available to register your willingness to donate plasma after you have recovered from COVID-19. The previous post here about local blood banks can also be helpful.
Omission
Last post I forgot to add the FDA website address listing sites promoting false treatments specifically for COVID-19.
Dr. Gipson
Good morning Dr. G.
I want to thank you or sending these updates and helping to keep us informed re the virus. They really are informative.
I also have a question. If someone is a carrier of the virus but is not ill how long can they carry it? I know some of the concern is that there could be people who have the virus but no symptoms and can unwittingly infect others.
Thanks again and I hope you and yours are well.
Shirley
That is an excellent question for which there is no known answer for this virus. No one to date has followed asymptomatic carriers over time to see how long they have the virus.
Conjecture based on other studies is up to one week. But that is based on other viral and bacterial studies, not the coronavirus.
Dr. G,
The photos from your archives are a breath of fresh air. The photos are beautiful and reminds us of what we looking forward to in the future when this is under control. Thanks for the renewed inspiration.
Thank you Sherry!
Great blog with good information. Sadly I have been slow to connect here and will look forward to following your comments and photos! Thanks!
Stay well!
Just found this site. Thank you for being there for us.
Wanted to ask I heard that quote “virus was handmade by China” have you heard this
It has been on tv and radio that they made it for who knows why but it was spread.
Please keep safe. We have not left our house for over 3 weeks and we are both sane still.
There has been speculation that it came from a biological lab in China. Other genetic evidence suggests it came from bats or pangolins. Still other genetic speculation is that it just mutated in some humans and spread from them. No clear answer at this time.
Stay well!