Infection with COVID-19 through the air is 1,000 times higher than from surfaces
The SARS-CoV-2 virus travels 1,000 times better through the air than through surfaces.
An article on this was published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology.
Scientists at the University of Michigan examined samples taken from the air and campus surfaces and found that virus particles were more likely to be inhaled from touching fingers.
Samples were also taken from offices, halls, cafeterias, gymnasiums and buses. Notably, the samples were taken during quarantine, as these spaces were half empty.
“The overall risk of infection with the virus was low in all of the sites we examined,” the research authors wrote. The highest percentage of positive samples from the gym was: 75% for air and 50% for surfaces. At the same time, the drinking fountain was the most polluted place, and it was not possible to detect viruses on the simulators.
After comparing tested positive samples with real cases of COVID-19 infection on campus, the scientists determined that airborne viral particle infection occurs in about 1 in 100 contacts, and from a contaminated surface in 1 in 100,000 contacts.
