Govt Issues Fresh Covid Guidelines: Virus Airborne, Spreads When Infected People Cough, Sneeze Or Talk

The protocol issued last year stated the Covid-19 infection spreads through close contact.

(File Photo/ AFP)

New Delhi: With the virus increasing rapidly forcing several states to impose strict lockdowns and curfews amid the second wave of the pandemic, the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday revised its Covid-19 clinical management guidelines stating the virus spreads “predominantly through the airborne route and droplet released when the infected person coughs, sneezes or talks”.

“These droplets may also land on surfaces, where the virus has been seen to remain viable for a variable duration of time depending on the type of surface. Infection can also occur if a person touches an infected surface and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. (known as fomite transmission),” said the Union Health Ministry’s National Clinical Management Protocol for Covid-19.

The protocol issued last year stated the Covid-19 infection spreads through close contact.

This comes as a guideline issued earlier by the office of the government’s Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) too mentioned that infected aerosols can be carried in the air up to 10 meters.

The office of the PSA in its advisory ‘Stop the Transmission, Crush the Pandemic-Masks, Distance, Sanitation and Ventilation to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus’ noted that well-ventilated spaces play a crucial role in diluting the Covid-19 viral load of infected air and help in decreasing the risk of transmission from one infected person to the other.

The advisory said saliva and nasal discharge in the form of droplets and aerosols carry the virus from one person to another, adding larger size droplets fall to the ground and on surfaces, and smaller aerosol particles are carried in the air to greater distances.

The advisory further said in closed un-ventilated indoor spaces, droplets and aerosols become quickly concentrated and greatly increase the risk of transmission to people in the area, adding droplets fall within 2 metres from an infected person and aerosols can be carried in the air up to 10 metres.

The protocol issued earlier was to maintain six feet (1.8 metres) distance to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection.

Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry informed that India achieved a significant milestone in its ongoing Covid-19 vaccination drive on Wednesday.

On 130th day of the drive, the cumulative Covid vaccination coverage crossed the 20 crore mark (with 20,06,62,456 doses, including 15,71,49,593 first dose and 4,35,12,863 second dose of COVID-19 vaccines), as per data available at 7 a.m. today, the ministry said.