Read on Twitter
FAUCI SAYS THE CORONAVIRUS IS AIRBORNE—it’s not official until the Fauci sings. And Dr Fauci has come out strongly: “Bottomline, there’s much more aerosol
than we thought”. #COVID19Moreover, #SARSCoV2 also found in:
StoolBloodSemen Eye secretions
Thread
2) We are also certain that masks reduce aerosol airborne transmission—older June article below. But the new revelation by Fauci is that bigger particles >5 microns (traditionally “droplets” also stay in air long time). Hence why virus is more airborne. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/368/6498/1422
3) And there is quite a bit of evidence built up on aerosols vs large droplets that usually get gravity pulled down and fomites (surface contact transmission). https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1309539545994743809
4) So what does this mean? Ventilation & masks to start. But 6 feet rule still important even with masks/vent, because aerosol plume is more concentrated short range, even if aerosol can transmit both short & long. Figure by @ShellyMBoulder. Indoors, we really need to ventilate.
5) How else to visualize the difference? Aerosols can stay in the air for many hours depending on ventilation. Typical air exchange every 20 min to 4 hrs.
6) And this is how masks are important. Watch the aerosols under laser night light with and without masks.
7) But once a droplet or particle lands on something, it can maybe also be picked back up into the air too. A recent study that show fomites (infectious particles on a surface) can also *become* aerosolized. Details in earlier thread on aerosolized fomites. https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1296503184572243969
on aerosolized fomites. https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1296503184572243969
8) How do you quickly ventilate a room! There are many right and wrong ways. This video explains what is truly needed to clear a room with fresh air. Note it was made by Japanese researchers who recognized the coronavirus was airborne long ago. #COVID19
9) Also, don’t hate the messenger—but tissue paper w/ influenza can also be aerosolized. “We further demonstrate that aerosolized fomites can be generated from inanimate objects, such as by manually rubbing a paper tissue contaminated w/ influenza virus.” https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-17888-w
10) And they go on: “During #COVID19 pandemic in China, air sampling in various hospitals found the highest airborne genome counts of #SARSCoV2 in rooms where health care workers doffed their PPE, hinting that virus was possibly being aerosolized where clothing being removed” 
11) To be clear — the coronavirus is MOST DEFINITELY aerosol & airborne. Long thread detailing 
of evidence and reasons why & how we know. If anyone doubts and wants to see more studies. - use this below as an explainer
(note it was written before weird CDC retraction). https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1308008060854599686
detailing of evidence and reasons why & how we know. If anyone doubts and wants to see more studies. - use this below as an explainer (note it was written before weird CDC retraction). https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1308008060854599686
12) And yes, Dr Fauci mentioned semen fluid having infectious virus. This has been known for a few months. There is also mention of “privileged immunity of the testes” being shielded from rest of body. Wont spoil anyone’s day here—read thread below to get the scoop. https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1258818134959689734
below to get the scoop. https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1258818134959689734
13) FECAL AEROSOLS—We already test wastewater for the coronavirus, so what about fecal aerosols? And yes, there is a study that suggests “fecal aerosol transmission may have caused the community outbreak of COVID-19 in high-rise building” via septic pipes.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7464151/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7464151/
14) Toilet plume—I don’t want to beat poop too much, but:
Flushing the Toilet May Fling Coronavirus Aerosols All Over
A new study shows how turbulence from a toilet bowl can create large plume that is potentially infectious to a bathroom’s next visitor. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/06/16/health/coronavirus-toilets-flushing.amp.html
Flushing the Toilet May Fling Coronavirus Aerosols All Over
A new study shows how turbulence from a toilet bowl can create large plume that is potentially infectious to a bathroom’s next visitor. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/06/16/health/coronavirus-toilets-flushing.amp.html
15) My other worry is that US don’t have a toilet lid (it’s weird), and often bathrooms are poorly ventilated. So even if you enter a bathroom alone, you never know what plume someone left in the air before you. I think wearing premium mask good precaution for public restrooms.
16) Bathrooms are a bigger issue than people realize. There was another case of a Korean woman who carefully wore an N95 mask on a plane entire time *except when using the 
bathroom 
*—and then contracted the coronavirus. Assuming she handwashed, it suggests aerosol. https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1298726519259443200
bathroom *—and then contracted the coronavirus. Assuming she handwashed, it suggests aerosol. https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1298726519259443200
17) Speaking of airplanes, there are now many other transmission cases. First documented one involved a man who wore a mask, but let the mask SLIP UNDER HIS NOSE... and then caught #COVID19 from his neighbors across the aisle. It’s a tricky virus. https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1288115219823091715
18) BOTTOMLINE: What we should remember is AEROSOL being airborne completely changes #COVID19 infection prevention. 6 feet insufficient. Indoors avoid any other groups, ventilate, HEPA filtrate (MERV13 or better), consider premium masks if others not wearing, & careful bathrooms!
