Small Coronavirus Air Particles Could Be Threat
2020-10-06
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1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
2At a university in the United States, people infected with the new coronavirus are part of an experiment.
3The subjects put their faces into the big end of a large cone-shaped device.
4They then say the alphabet and sing or just sit quietly for half an hour.
5The cone captures everything that comes out of their mouths and noses.
6The device is helping researchers study a big question: Exactly how does the virus that causes COVID-19 spread?
7The Associated Press recently reported on the study at the University of Maryland.
8The coronavirus has been known to link up with small liquid particles released by an infected person.
9People expel particles when coughing, sneezing, singing, talking, and even breathing.
10But these droplets come in any number of sizes.
11The University of Maryland researchers are attempting to identify how risky the different sizes are.
12Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials have been concerned about larger particles from the coronavirus.
13But some scientists are now studying smaller particles, the ones that spread like cigarette smoke.
14These particles, called aerosols, can stay in the air for minutes to hours.
15They can spread throughout a room and build up if air ventilation is poor.
16At one time, the World Health Organization (WHO) did not think that aerosols were a danger except in some medical situations.
17But later, WHO experts said that the spread of the virus through aerosols could not be ruled out in crowded and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
18Some health officials have been saying one way to avoid getting sick is to keep at least two meters away from other people.
19Other officials say about half that distance is safe.
20These suggestions are based on the idea that larger particles fall to the ground before they can travel very far.
21For aerosols, notes researcher Linsey Marr, two meters does not guarantee protection.
22Marr is studying coronavirus particles at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
23Marr told The Associated Press she thinks infection by aerosols is "happening a lot more than people initially were willing to think."
24To prove this, she and others point to what they call "super-spreader" events.
25This is an event where one infected person may have passed the virus to many others.
26Jay Butler is deputy director for infectious disease at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
27He says the CDC continues to believe larger, heavier droplets that come from coughing or sneezing are the main method of transmission.
28But he added that more research may change that finding.
29Butler said super-spreader events raise concerns about aerosol spread.
30But they do not prove it.
31There could be another way for very small particles to spread.
32At the University of California, researchers found that small droplets do not have to come directly from an individual's mouth or nose to infect.
33They found that when influenza virus is left on paper tissues, those papers can give off particles of the virus.
34So, researchers say, anyone emptying a container with tissues containing COVID-19 should wear a face mask.
35Scientists who warn about aerosols say that current health advisories still make sense.
36Wearing a mask is still important.
37Make sure it covers the lower half of your face.
38Keep washing your hands.
39And again, staying farther apart is better than being closer together.
40Avoid crowds, especially indoors.
41But experts say another big issue is air ventilation.
42Try to avoid a buildup of aerosol particles by staying out of poorly ventilated rooms.
43When possible, open windows and doors. Keep air moving and use air-purifying devices.
44The best advice, researchers say, is do as much as you can outdoors.
45Droplets do not build up in open-air environments.
46And the sun's ultraviolet light can also kill the coronavirus.
47Jose-Luis Jimenez is a researcher at the University of Colorado-Boulder.
48He says that being outdoors is most effective protective measure.
49He added that while it is not impossible to get infected outdoors, "it is difficult."
50And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo.
51And I'm Mario Ritter.
1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. 2At a university in the United States, people infected with the new coronavirus are part of an experiment. 3The subjects put their faces into the big end of a large cone-shaped device. They then say the alphabet and sing or just sit quietly for half an hour. The cone captures everything that comes out of their mouths and noses. 4The device is helping researchers study a big question: Exactly how does the virus that causes COVID-19 spread? 5The Associated Press recently reported on the study at the University of Maryland. 6The coronavirus has been known to link up with small liquid particles released by an infected person. People expel particles when coughing, sneezing, singing, talking, and even breathing. 7But these droplets come in any number of sizes. The University of Maryland researchers are attempting to identify how risky the different sizes are. 8Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials have been concerned about larger particles from the coronavirus. But some scientists are now studying smaller particles, the ones that spread like cigarette smoke. These particles, called aerosols, can stay in the air for minutes to hours. They can spread throughout a room and build up if air ventilation is poor. 9At one time, the World Health Organization (WHO) did not think that aerosols were a danger except in some medical situations. But later, WHO experts said that the spread of the virus through aerosols could not be ruled out in crowded and poorly ventilated indoor spaces. 10Some health officials have been saying one way to avoid getting sick is to keep at least two meters away from other people. Other officials say about half that distance is safe. These suggestions are based on the idea that larger particles fall to the ground before they can travel very far. 11For aerosols, notes researcher Linsey Marr, two meters does not guarantee protection. Marr is studying coronavirus particles at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. 12Marr told The Associated Press she thinks infection by aerosols is "happening a lot more than people initially were willing to think." To prove this, she and others point to what they call "super-spreader" events. This is an event where one infected person may have passed the virus to many others. 13Jay Butler is deputy director for infectious disease at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He says the CDC continues to believe larger, heavier droplets that come from coughing or sneezing are the main method of transmission. But he added that more research may change that finding. 14Butler said super-spreader events raise concerns about aerosol spread. But they do not prove it. There could be another way for very small particles to spread. 15Other ways the virus may spread 16At the University of California, researchers found that small droplets do not have to come directly from an individual's mouth or nose to infect. They found that when influenza virus is left on paper tissues, those papers can give off particles of the virus. So, researchers say, anyone emptying a container with tissues containing COVID-19 should wear a face mask. 17Scientists who warn about aerosols say that current health advisories still make sense. Wearing a mask is still important. Make sure it covers the lower half of your face. Keep washing your hands. And again, staying farther apart is better than being closer together. Avoid crowds, especially indoors. 18But experts say another big issue is air ventilation. Try to avoid a buildup of aerosol particles by staying out of poorly ventilated rooms. When possible, open windows and doors. Keep air moving and use air-purifying devices. 19Outdoors is best 20The best advice, researchers say, is do as much as you can outdoors. Droplets do not build up in open-air environments. And the sun's ultraviolet light can also kill the coronavirus. 21Jose-Luis Jimenez is a researcher at the University of Colorado-Boulder. He says that being outdoors is most effective protective measure. He added that while it is not impossible to get infected outdoors, "it is difficult." 22And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo. 23And I'm Mario Ritter. 24The Associated Press reported this story. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 25_______________________________________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27cone - n. a shape that has a pointed top and sides that form a circle at the bottom 28alphabet - n. the letters of a language arranged in their usual order 29cough - n./v. to force air through your throat with a short, loud noise often because you are sick 30sneeze - n./v. to suddenly force air out through your nose and mouth with a usually loud noise because your body is reacting to dust, a sickness, etc. 31pandemic - n. medical : an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world 32ventilation - n. a system or means of providing fresh air 33aerosol - n. a substance (such as hair spray or medicine) that is kept in a container under pressure and that is released as a fine spray when a button is pressed 34transmission - n. the act or process by which something is spread or passed from one person or thing to another 35ultraviolet - adj. technical -used to describe rays of light that cannot be seen and that are slightly shorter than the rays of violet light