1. Many Americans take to the streets. Is that corona proof?
“It is not Corona proof, but things have changed in recent months”, says Bruijning. “People are now more inclined to keep their distance from each other and almost everyone wears masks. So they have changed their behavior.”
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“In addition, the risk of contamination in the open air is relatively small. Almost all contamination takes place indoors, especially if the contact is long-term. What can make a difference outside is the mass of people who are on their feet. risk, but with millions of people on the street that can have an enormous reinforcing effect. “
2. What is the influence of the behavior of protesters or partygoers?
“The question is whether people go outside when they don’t feel well. If they do have complaints. Or do they stay inside? That makes a lot of difference. But there are more factors that are important.”
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“Do they scream and cheer, for example? When you do that, the amount of aerosols is many times greater than when you breathe quietly or speak softly. Those aerosols, the droplets of moisture that contain the virus, then have to be inhaled by someone else to become infected. The likelihood that someone will breathe them in when spreading a larger amount, ie when shouting and cheering, is therefore greater.
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“And do those present wear mouth masks? And also important: is there sufficient distance? So what helps to prevent infections: if the spreader of the virus wears a mouth mask, if the recipient wears a mouth mask and yet also: if you are in the open air because then the aerosols can blow away. “
3. Will the Americans all have corona in two weeks?
“You cannot say that one on one. You can see the infections in the United States now increasing, but the question is whether that is due to people coming together. At the protest on Dam Square in early June, we did not have a significant Seen increases. That seemed to be better then. “
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“The difference now is that there were very few infections anyway during the Vapor protest. That is different now. Also in America. We have to rely on the theory, for example that cheering and singing increase the chance of contamination. But whether the events of this week will really lead to more infections is almost impossible to determine. “
4. What is the influence of the weather?
“Several laboratory studies have been conducted into the survival of the virus in various environmental factors, such as humidity and UV light. Sunshine, or UV light, inactivates the virus. In addition, we know that the virus does better at lower temperatures. That is likely. the reason that there are many infections at meat processing companies because of the low temperatures there. “
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“Humidity also plays a role. If the air is relatively dry, the aerosols can linger longer in the air, because the moisture droplets evaporate earlier. The virus particles remain behind and thus remain suspended in the air. When it is humid, the evaporation is less and the aerosols fall to the ground. Then they are less harmful. “
“But this is also all theoretical. I don’t dare to put a number on how much it matters. I certainly don’t want to say: ‘Today is a sunny day, so there is no risk of contamination.’ At the most, they are suggestions that it matters. “
5. Have there been any new insights since the Vapor Protest?
“In the meantime, outbreaks that took place in the open air have been analyzed. Usually there was loud singing, screaming and talking. Those analyzes mainly came from America where music festivals took place.”
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“Furthermore, the picture that has developed over time has mainly been confirmed. That is to say: several factors are probably needed to get a spread, such as not enough distance, shouting, singing and chanting. Sitting at a distance and quietly walking past each other is no problem. “
“So the behavior has changed in the meantime. For example, five months ago you saw very few face masks. That is also the advice when you demonstrate: wear a face mask, keep your distance and yell and don’t sing.”
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