Keep 33-feet Distance to Stay Safe from COVID: Govt's Top Scientific Advisor

Wearing a face mask, using hand sanitisers, and maintaining social distance has become a normal life for each and every one since COVID-19 is taking place across the world.

The office of Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India has advised to take the COVID-19 safety protocol more seriously, as the number of COVID cases is rising daily.

It says that SARS-CoV-2 can be airborne for up to 10 metres, which is almost 33 feet.

As a six-foot distance was thought to be enough to prevent SARS-CoV-2 earlier, now the research said that it should be of 33-foot distance.

Professor K Vijayaraghavan, the government's top scientific advisor said, "Infection transmission risk is much lower in outdoor areas, as virus particles get quickly dispersed."

The guideline advisory said that fluid discharge from nostrils and mouth of an infected person spreads COVID-19. The infection is transmitted when a healthy person breathes infected air or touches infected surfaces and subsequently touches her eyes, nose or mouth, unwittingly depositing the virus in the body.

"Saliva and nasal discharge in the form of droplets and aerosols carry the virus from one person to another. Larger size droplets fall to the ground and on surfaces, and smaller aerosol particles are carried in the air to greater distances. In closed un-ventilated indoor spaces, droplets and aerosols become quickly concentrated and greatly increase the risk of transmission to people in the area," the advisory added.

The government's top scientific offer said three things:

1. Aerosols and droplets are the key transmission mode of the virus.

2. Droplets fall within 2 meters from an infected person.

3. Aerosols can be carried in the air up to 10 meters.

As per the sources, the new advisory emphasises a lot on indoor ventilation. "Better the ventilation, lower the potential for transmission," the advisory said.

It advises to keep windows and doors open so that indoor air is in circulation particularly when the ceiling fan is running. It also advises using exhaust fans for rooms with poor ventilation or using pedestal fans facing outdoors to improve indoor ventilation. Keeping windows open in buses and trains where possible and introducing "roof ventilators and HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) regular filters are recommended in offices, auditoriums, shopping malls" and also air-conditioned buses and trains.

"Keep windows and doors ajar while the ACs are running to bring in clean air and dilute virus particles that just as smells can be diluted by ventilation, the dangerous concentration of the virus can be reduced by ensuring that outdoor air flows in," the advisory explained.

According to the principal scientific advisory of the government, here is what needs to be done:

• Wear double masks, especially when interacting with people.

• Keep indoors well-ventilated.

• Maintain physical distance up to 10 metres.

• Wash or sanitise hands regularly.

• Isolate COVID-19 positive people promptly and they should be given N-95 masks, if possible.

• Disinfect surfaces regularly to mitigate fomite infection.

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