Exposure to cough aerosols and development of pulmonary COVID-19.

We hypothesized that most patients with severe pulmonary COVID-19 were exposed to cough aerosols. Among patients that were almost 100% certain which person infected them, only 14 out of 38 overall, and 9 out of 25 hospitalized patients requiring supplemental oxygen, were infected by someone who coughed, which did not support our hypothesis. Talking, especially with a loud voice, could be an alternative source generating SARS-CoV-2 aerosols. Further research is needed to determine how SARS-CoV-2 spreads. Avoiding to talk when you are not wearing your mask and not talking with a loud voice, 'voice etiquette', could be other public health interventions worthwhile exploring.

Citation

Koen Vanden Driessche, Jeremy Nestele, Jeroen Grouwels, Els Lim Duval. Exposure to cough aerosols and development of pulmonary COVID-19. Journal of breath research. 2020 Oct 02;14(4):041003

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PMID: 33006317

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