The corona virus hovers in our air and adheres to aerosols. But is it dangerous? Can you protect yourself at all – for example with a mask? All the answers to the most important questions:
- Researchers at the TU Berlin are investigating whether the corona virus can spread Aerosols spreads.
- Covid-19 can stick to the air particles and spread easily in closed rooms.
- Masks only provide limited protection against aerosols.
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Mask requirement, ban on contact, distance rules, hygiene plan – in the fight against that Corona virus there are many measures that we have had to consider for weeks. All of these regulations are designed to prevent the spread of Covid-19. But is that all sufficient? Researcher at the Technical University (TU) Berlin have concerns. Because the corona virus can Aerosols adhere and thus spread invisibly in closed rooms.
Do aerosols distribute the coronavirus? Research started at TU Berlin
First of all, it has to be clarified what exactly aerosols are. Under Aerosols one understands very small suspended particles, which consist of solid or liquid substances. The smallest particles are only a few nanometers in size. Aerosols occur everywhere, for example they are in the dust in the Indoor air, in car exhaust or in Cigarette smoke to find. In a nutshell: aerosols fly around in the air and are so tiny that we cannot see them with the eye.
#MouthNose Coverings: What forms are there and how do they protect? The # BZgA video explains the differences. # Everyday mask https://t.co/ACYLm2ENiv via @YouTube
– BZgA (@bzga_de) May 25, 2020
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So now there is one invisible danger from aerosols that are contaminated with the corona virus? This is exactly the question the researchers at the TU in Berlin are asking themselves. The experts want to find out how the smallest particles are distributed in the room and what protects against infection.
Coronavirus: Areosols spread in closed rooms
After experts focused on droplet infection at the beginning of the corona crisis, researchers are now launching the TU Berlin with the analysis of aerosols. In closed rooms, Covid-19 could spread unnoticed and thus a possible one Contagion risk represent. According to the TU Berlin, aerosols are still completely present in closed rooms without ventilation after 20 minutes. In a room with mechanical ventilation, there are far fewer particles. But is there any need to worry?
According to a Spiegel reportage, so far not clear, how big the corona viruses have to be so that they are still infectious. But this should now be found out. What Martin Kriegel, head of the Herman Reitschel Institute at the TU Berlin, and his research team already know: Singing releases significantly more aerosols than normal speech. There have already been several corona outbreaks after choir meetings – so there may well be a connection with the aerosols.
Corona Protection: Do Masks Retain Aerosols?
It has been in force in Germany since April 27 Mask requirement. A mouthguard is intended to hold back the droplets that arise when talking, coughing or sneezing. But what about the tiny aerosol particles?
A mask can only help to a limited extent against coronaviruses on aerosols.
© picture alliance / dpa
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“The masks do not actually reduce this number of particles very much. Approximately 80 to 90 percent of the aerosols still leak into the room air due to the mask leakage ”, says Martin Kriegel. The mask prevent the aerosols from being spread into the air like a jet, but the particles on the sides of the masks are forced out. Kriegel points out that through a Mouthguard another person is not directly hit by the exhaled air. Instead, the breathing air is diluted with the room air “and then hits me indirectly through a detour, but just a very low concentration. That’s why wearing a mask is of course good, especially when you can’t keep your distance ”he continues.
Corona stick to areosols – how can you protect yourself?
Corona regulations state that in buildings regularly aired must become. However, Kriegel explains that opening the windows does not always help. “Window ventilation works Not always. This is how you imagine it: Windows open and the airflow comes in – that’s not really the case. Because if you have no wind outside, if you have the same temperature outside and inside, then nothing happens. “The expert explains that the best solution be one Ventilation system.
So if you go according to the results of the TU Berlin so far Mask requirement, ban on contact, distance rules and a hygiene plan are only limited against that Corona virus help. But is still not clear, if at all corona With Aerosols infectious is. And: If you are outdoors, you do not have to worry about it at all.
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Source: Mannheim24
List of rubric lists: © picture alliance / dpa
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