What are the chances of contracting the CCP virus outdoors?
The likelihood of contracting a CCP virus outdoors is much lower than in an enclosed room – whether it is the original CCP virus or a variant of it. Scholars of aerosols have even said, “Almost all transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus occurs indoors. Transmission outdoors is extremely rare and, unlike the indoor situation, there have never been cases of multiple simultaneous infections outdoors.” This is what five leading members of the German Association for Aerosol Research (GAeF) wrote in an open letter to the federal government and the governors of the federal states.
The argument of this group of researchers is that aerosols persist longer in confined spaces, especially in small rooms, than in fresh air. The open letter reads, “Wearing a mask in a walking area and then meeting in your own living room for coffee without a mask is not what we as professionals understand as protection against the disease.” But the Aerosol Research Association also stressed that the open letter should be understood as a complement to the relevant debate and does not contain new research data.
Deutsche Welle asked the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), which is responsible for disease control, but the institute would not take a position on the content of the open letter.
The RKI only said that the discussion of the topic was not only about the risk of infection in parks or walking areas, but also about the travel distance to these locations, for example by bus or subway. But basically, the Robert Koch Institute’s official website on the new coronavirus says, “Overall, outdoor transmission is less common. The chances of virus transmission due to air movement are extremely low when social distances are maintained outdoors.”
The classic open-air picnic before the outbreak: such crowded scenes are best avoided for now
Why is the chance of infection outdoors low?
Both the original strain of the new coronavirus and the mutated virus are significantly less likely to be contracted outdoors than indoors. Aerosols, the very small droplets in the air, play a decisive role in the spread of the CCA virus. According to experts, the danger of these aerosols is reduced much faster outdoors.
“It has to do with the fact that there is more air circulation outdoors, there is air movement, which of course causes a dilution effect,” Nico Mutters, director of the Institute for Hygiene and Public Health at Bonn University Hospital, told Deutsche Welle.
Birgit Wehner, an aerosol researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, also said that exhaled droplets dry faster outdoors and are then also diluted more quickly. However, a position paper from the Aerosol Research Society, which Wehner co-sponsored, notes that especially in large gatherings of people in close proximity to each other, the possibility of infection cannot be ruled out even outdoors.
So even outdoors, people must maintain a social distance of 1.50 meters to 2 meters from each other.” If you don’t keep that distance, if you’re looking at each other face to face, talking, singing, shouting, spitting loudly, then you can get infected through droplets rather than aerosols, the equivalent of the virus being sprayed in your face.” So said Alexander Kekulé, a virologist, in an interview with Deutsche Welle. He is widely known for his frequent criticism of the federal government’s epidemic prevention measures in the media. Kekulé argues that the Communist virus must be dealt with without unduly restricting life.
The virologist said the universal rule of social distance also applies to virus variants. Kekulay stressed, “It’s very important that variant viruses don’t fly farther.” They are a little more contagious, he said, but there is no difference as far as precautions are concerned.
With that in mind, it’s best for people to avoid kissing or hugging each other. But other everyday behaviors, such as people rubbing shoulders with each other, pose little risk outdoors.
Some research findings confirm that the risk of contracting the CCA virus outdoors is very low. For example, a study in China noted that of 7,324 reported infections, only one occurred outdoors. The German Robert Koch Institute also writes on its website that outdoor transmission is very rare overall.
A beach in Cancún, Mexico, in January
To what extent does wind play a role in spreading the virus?
“The stronger the wind, the more likely it is that the aerosols you produce will be blown away,” explains aerosol researcher and physicist Gerhard Scheuch.
Repeatedly, people on social networks post photos of many people sitting in groups on a patch of grass. But Scheuch says there’s no need to panic about such scenarios: The chances of strong winds carrying aerosols that far away and causing another group of people to become infected with the virus are slim. The premise is to keep social distance between the two groups of people.
Shaughnessy even considers the situation “absolutely harmless”. In an interview with Deutsche Welle, he said, “The body heat alone generates a certain amount of airflow, which usually goes up like a chimney.” This is because most of the time, the human body temperature of about 37 degrees is higher than the outside temperature.” Warm air rises, and so does aerosol fog.”
A study in Iran also showed no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread by wind.
Does warm and cold weather have an effect on virus transmission?
This question has not been answered conclusively by science. For example, U.S. researchers studied infections in warm, cold, dry and wet areas of China and found no correlation between climatic conditions and the number of infections.
However, an Austrian study confirmed that ultraviolet radiation can destroy the virus.” However, UV radiation may also have only a small effect on direct person-to-person infections.” The researchers still stressed that because infections can occur within minutes.
Experts interviewed by Deutsche Welle differed in their claims. Mutters said it cannot be generalized that the risk of infection outdoors in the warm season is less than in the cold season.” For example, although UV radiation is generally higher in summer, it reaches higher levels through reflection on snow, for example, when skiing. So, whether it’s cold or hot, there is no strong overall effect on the likelihood of propagation,” explains Mutters. In addition, cases of infection have been seen all over the world, both in warm and cold regions.
Virologist Kekulay disagrees. Even in countries with warm climates, he says, infections don’t always occur outdoors, but indoors.” It is because people often stay indoors with air conditioning and fans.”
Runners are not more potentially contagious than walkers – as long as they keep enough distance
Are runners potentially more contagious?
Experts believe that it is enough to maintain a minimum social distance even when meeting someone outdoors for exercise – even if the other person is breathing more deeply and releasing more particles.
“If a jogger just runs past you for a short time, even if the distance is short, the risk is low,” aerosol researcher Weiner told Deutsche Welle.
Shaughnessy also confirms this. Even when playing sports, it takes a few minutes of close contact for people to become infected. So he doesn’t see a problem with contact sports like soccer or basketball being outside.” The problem arises when you use the locker room to change clothes or when you have to use the restroom. These are dangerous areas. Care must be taken to make sure these areas are well ventilated.” Beyond that, restrictions can be relaxed while maintaining the necessary social distance outdoors.
A Dutch study last year concluded the opposite, that greater distances should be maintained from people playing sports – for cyclists, a distance of 20 meters should ideally be maintained. However, the study itself is controversial: it was conducted in a simulated wind tunnel, not under real conditions.
Is it more dangerous to meet a smoker?
So far, no studies have linked secondhand smoke to a greater risk of infection. But last year, the Spanish government made headlines when it announced that smoking was banned in all outdoor public places. However, this rule only applies to places where people cannot be kept two meters away from each other.
Shaughnessy, an expert in aerosol research, said that if this distance is maintained, smokers are no more potentially infectious than non-smokers. “Smoking does not cause more viral emissions,” he explained. Mooters, a medical expert, also said that smokers themselves are not more likely to get the new crown disease than others, nor are they more potentially contagious.
The only thing that is certain, according to the Robert Koch Institute, is that smokers are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill after contracting New Coronavirus.
Does it make sense to wear a mask outdoors?
When outdoors, it makes sense to wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth if you can’t keep a minimum distance. This is especially true in large crowds where people are in relatively close proximity to each other and there is no room to avoid them.
Mooters said that masks certainly make sense at concerts where it is difficult to maintain social distance, for example. Weiner agrees: “If you feel uncomfortable standing at a bus stop, in line, with people in close proximity, then wearing a mask is certainly a good thing.”
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