Scientists now claim that COVID-19 is airborne

HUNDREDS of scientists have come forward with evidence showing that COVID-19 is airborne.

A total of 239 scientists in 32 countries found evidence that smaller particles of the virus in the air can infect people.

According to Reuters, the scientists planned to publish their findings in a scientific journal next week and are urging the World Health Organization (WHO) to revise their previous claims in an open letter to the agency.

WHO previously said that people primarily get infected by COVID-19 via droplets from the nose and mouth when they are sneezing or coughing.

Whether via larger droplets that exist in the air after a person sneezes or through smaller exhaled droplets that glide through the room, the scientists believe that the virus is airborne and can infect people who inhale it.

There have been many research looking into whether COVID-19 can really travel through air.

Notably, in June, research published in the scientific journal PNAS suggested that airborne transmission of the virus is highly virulent and represents the dominant route to spread the disease.

The study was based on trend and mitigation measures in Wuhan, Rome and New York City from January 23 to May 9, 2020.

That said, WHO is not convinced of the evidence thus far about the virus being airborne.

WHO's technical lead of infection prevention and control Dr Benedetta Allegranzi said this to The New York Times: "Especially in the last couple of months, we have been stating several times that we consider airborne transmission as possible, but certainly not supported by solid or even clear evidence."