COVID-19 Five-Minute Rule: How Fast Coronavirus Spreads Inside Public Place?
Dining out with the family is one of the family bonding that was hindered when COVID-19 Introduced itself to the public.
When nationwide lockdowns were implemented by the US authorities to protect its constituents from getting the notorious virus, people weren't able to go out of the comfort of their homes without adhering to the safety protocols.
Earlier in the year, restaurants were skeptical to reopen due to the coronavirus' threat and the danger they and their customers might encounter.
With the risks of dining out due to SARS-CoV-2, reports that a patron of a South Korean restaurant took only five minutes to be COVID-19 positive.
Five Minute COVID-19 Infection gather different reactions
People are seen eating at an outdoor restaurant in Soho, ahead of London being moved into Tier 3 of the pandemic-control system on Wednesday, on December 15, 2020 in London, England. In 'Tier 3' of England's pandemic-control measures, restaurants and pubs will be limited to takeaway and delivery, although shops are allowed to remain open.
Fox Los Angeles reports that although the customer was sitting more than 20 feet away, still gets infected by COVID-19.
The study published in the Journal of Korean Medical Science garners different reactions from netizens, stating concerns regarding the time frame of the virus infection.
One netizen wonders how the experts were able to identify the virus although usual swab testing results wait until 5 days for its results to be released, which according to Medical News Today is the standard time or the result's release in the county of Los Angeles.
Other netizens were expressing their dismay that the study may be used to impose greater restrictions on the people.
Although the news triggers question among American citizens, Fox News Los Angeles mentions that the authors of the study wrote that the guidelines regarding the quarantine and epidemiological investigations should be updated to reflect the factors for control and prevention of COVID-19.
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The Study
Since the restaurant customer was infected 20 feet away, the Los Angeles Times reports that the conclusions of the study raise concerns regarding the widely accepted standard of six-feet of social distancing may not be enough to keep people safe.
Forbes furthers that the researchers are also determined that the virus can spread more than three times the six-foot range in just five minutes, which is a much faster window than most customers spend without masks on a restaurant table while consuming their food.
According to Yahoo Life, the researchers analyzed a pair of transmissions that occurred in a restaurant in June, where customers were infected even if they were seated 21-feet away from a diner who was asymptomatic, 16 feet away respectively.
The study also adds that the data of the research is comprised of patient's statements, medical institution usage history, CCTV footages, credit card records, and cellphone location data.
The results of the study demonstrate a total of three cases of this outbreak, and a maximum air flow velocity of 1.2 m/s between the infector and the one infected inside a diner with ceiling-type air conditioners. The researchers also concluded that Droplet transmission can happen at a distance greater than 2 meters if there is direct airflow from an infected person.
Although the study garners different reactions from citizens, data from procedures can always determine and explain an unusual phenomenon.
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Dec 16, 2020 12:00 PM EST
