A recent investigation published in the Spanish newspaper El Pais has unveiled surprising insights into the patterns of coronavirus transmission in enclosed spaces. Let's take a closer look at what you need to know to decrease the risk of contracting the virus and, most importantly, how to protect our elderly residents in care facilities.
Before delving into the virus transmission scenarios, the El Pais article emphasizes that, although indoor spaces are riskier, it is possible to significantly reduce the risks by neutralizing aerosol-based transmission vectors.
These results confirm the theory of COVID-19 transmission through aerosols, tiny particles exhaled by infected individuals that remain suspended in the air within enclosed spaces. While larger respiratory droplets fall to the ground, infectious aerosol particles linger and accumulate in the air in the absence of proper ventilation.
Common Sources of Contamination
The study also sheds light on why certain enclosed spaces like bars, restaurants, and nightclubs could be potent sources of contagion. "Each contamination cluster in a nightclub results in an average of 27 infected people, compared to only six infections in family gatherings." Following similar principles as mentioned earlier, the authors explain how, in a bar, the number of infected individuals can drop from 14 to 8 with mask-wearing and to just one if exposure time is reduced, and the bar has effective ventilation.
How to Protect the Elderly from Contamination?
There are several modes of transmission, with contaminated surfaces considered the least likely source. Next come respiratory droplets expelled when coughing or sneezing, which can reach the eyes, mouth, and nose of another person. Finally, there are aerosols that linger in the air and can cause contamination. Shouting or singing in a poorly ventilated room can also pose contamination risks. The longer one spends with a contagious person in an enclosed setting, the greater the risk. This emphasizes that ventilation and reducing the duration of exposure are crucial factors in reducing risks in indoor spaces.
This incredible study provides fundamental insights into the behavior needed to guard against the virus. While adhering to social distancing is essential to avoid droplet-based contamination, it is insufficient protection against aerosols that disperse throughout the room. By ventilating indoor spaces, reducing capacity, wearing masks, and shortening the duration of encounters, we can achieve more effective protection against coronavirus transmission.
Maintaining Social Connections
According to the study's findings, there is encouraging news regarding measures to be taken in care homes. It is possible to protect residents effectively while allowing visits from loved ones. If these visits are well-regulated, brief, take place in well-ventilated rooms, and all parties wear masks, they are not expected to pose contamination risks to the elderly. Maintaining social connections is paramount for the well-being of our elderly population. These results open the door to optimal management of the balance we aim to strike, "protecting without isolating." Whether living in senior residences or care homes, seniors primarily seek social interaction and relationships. Depriving them of this, especially in the context of COVID-19 prevention, is not a suitable solution, both from a human perspective and in terms of effectiveness. The consequences of isolation are so severe, especially during the initial lockdown that France experienced, that it is imperative to consider any means to avoid subjecting our elderly, whether independent or dependent, to such an ordeal again.
This Spanish investigation into the various risks of coronavirus contamination and ways to mitigate them provides scientific insights to numerous assumptions. By following the outlined guidelines, it is possible to significantly reduce the risk of contamination and effectively manage encounters in enclosed spaces. The results also reinforce the idea that outdoor spaces are preferable and that mask-wearing is important, even though it is not a standalone solution.
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