croissant"SARS is not airborne." — Bonnie Henry, 2003
"Unlike SARS, COVID-19 is not airborne." — Bonnie Henry, 2020
"Unlike COVID-19, Hantavirus is not airborne." — Bonnie Henry, 2026
Jean-François Mezei@croissant Sars-1 had the virus become inert as soon as the droplet in which it was exhaled evaporated. Therefore very short lifetime after being exhaled and while still suspended in air. Hence the 2m distancing rule which worked for Sars-1.
When Sars-CoV2 was typedf in January 2020, it was ASSUMED to behave as SARS1 and hence the same distancing rules recommended.
In April, Trump killed a massively imporatnt story by suggesting people inject bleach or shine bright light up their ass.
(cont
@croissant (SARS cont)
The April press conference started with the first evidence or virus survivability which was revealed by NIH/CDC during start of press conference: The Sars-CoV2 virus remained active FAR longer in the air and on surfaces than SARS-1. This, after the droplet had evaporated in air, the virus remained contagious and hence the 2m rule no longer sufficient, and masks suggested and isolation ect.
Trump COVFEFEd this with his bleach antics, no US media spoke of new data.
@croissant hanta/Andes has existed for quite some time, and there is no indication this is a new virus, so assumptions on propagation remain valid unless proven otherwise.
PCR tests already exist, so easier to tell when someone is infected.
(cont)
@croissant As an example of how media often misrepresent science:
In early January 2020, WHO stated that as a corona virus, it was very likely human to human transmissible, but there was no evidence of this yet.
On January 14, China stated there was no evidence yet. Evidence surfaced a few days later. The why matters:
(cont)
@croissant (cont)
Until PCR tests available, you couldn't check who was infected.
PCR tests took a few days for results, and would only be posistive a few days after someone was infected.
By Jan 14, China had not yet had the time for:
-PCR tests becoming available.
-Person 1 gets infected, tests positive on PCR
(few days elapse)
-Person 2 has symptoms, didnt go to Wuhan market, gets positive PCR, and has had contacts with person 1.
WHO's statement were scientifically correct at time made.
JohnYour homework is to look up the "precautionary principle" and report back to the class