Now these organisations, medical reports and experts are contradicting this advice.
239 researchers from 32 countries penned an open letter on to public health bodies, including the World Health Organization, arguing there's significant evidence the coronavirus can persist in the air and spread in airborne particles from person to person. The letter, published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases on Monday 6 July 2020, advocates for "the use of preventative measures to mitigate this route of airborne transmission" and was signed by 239 researchers from 32 countries.
"I'm a bit shocked this came up," says Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases researcher at the University of Toronto. "There is no new data, just a signed letter that makes headlines." The WHO are yet to comment. Source. See some of the known research below on this page.
How Coronavirus Spreads through the Air: What We Know So Far
The virus that causes COVID-19 can persist in aerosol form, some studies suggest. But the potential for transmission depends on many factors, including infectiousness, dose and ventilation
Aerosols Driving COVID-19 Spread. Aerosol experts say evidence doesn't add up for droplets being primary driver - 9 Oct 2020.
Some experts say that the air exhaled by a person with CO-19 is so diluted as to be harmless, while others disagree.
This page claims that face masks do not work mainly because the particle size is too fine (< 2.5 µm) to be blocked.
This paper was read 460,000 times, and the editor says that even though he looked at every response, he still found no reason to disagree that with" Still No Conclusive Evidence Justifying Mandatory Masks."
This convincing paper on the CDC site, dated 5 May 2020 says "In pooled analysis, we found no significant reduction in influenza transmission with the use of face masks" yet the CDC did not change its recommendations on their wearing. Wonder why?
The CDC now says that droplet transmission is unlikely, yet they still say to wash hands and the recommendation to sterilise areas still stands.
As at 5 October 2020, from the CDC "How COVID-19 Spreads".
The WHO now says to wear masks only when near anyone with COVID-19, the CDC since April 3, 2020, says "when in areas of high rates of transmission" while governments say whenever in public.
How do we know what is false news when so much comes from reputable sources and governments that take advice from "experts" or do they? No wonder that there is so much distrust in governments!
This is the most convincing graph that shows the effectiveness of Hydroxychloroquine that has been ignored.
There is growing non scientific literature that Vitamin D and Zinc inhibit the CO-19 virus. Taking them should do no harm except to your pocket, and in a sea of bewilderment they could be effective.
"Sunlight destroys the COVID-19 virus quickly," reads the briefing.
In 1918 putting infected patients out in the sun helped because it inactivated the influenza virus.
Distance, Dose, Dispersion: An experts' guide on Covid-19 risks
Your face is the gateway to the Coronavirus infection.
Don't let your hands open the gate!!
These are three of the exact instructions given by the WHO and echoed by every health organisation but some are questioning!
Advice has changed - again!!! Important - 22 May 2020
It now appears that Surfaces Are 'Not the Main Way' Coronavirus Spreads, C.D.C. Says If you're worried about wiping down grocery bags or disinfecting mailed packages, this C.D.C. guidance might bring some relief. It's not new information; the agency has been saying this for months.
The Coronavirus Is Airborne Indoors. Why Are We Still Scrubbing Surfaces?
Scientists who initially warned about contaminated surfaces now say that the virus spreads primarily through inhaled droplets, and that there is little to no evidence that deep cleaning mitigates the threat indoors.
Note how few experts are now concerned about hand sterilising, yet stores are still spraying all shoppers. Is it a waste?
The so-called super-spreaders are maybe anyone infected who spits a lot when talking.
The Recommendations on Wearing Masks Changed
Shield or Visor + and -
Mode of transmission: CDC Recommendations 18 May 2020.
"Current data suggest person-to-person transmission most commonly happens during close exposure to a person infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, primarily via respiratory droplets produced when the infected person speaks, coughs, or sneezes.
"Droplets can land in the mouths, noses, or eyes of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs of those within close proximity.
"Transmission also might occur through contact with contaminated surfaces followed by self-delivery to the eyes, nose, or mouth.
"The contribution of small respirable particles, sometimes called aerosols or droplet nuclei, to close proximity transmission is currently uncertain. However, airborne transmission from person-to-person over long distances is unlikely."
The logical conclusion is that the only way the virus can enter your body is through your eyes, nose and mouth, (except through an open cut) and there are only three ways the infection can get to your eyes, nose mouth.
However to confuse matters further "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed its coronavirus guidance once again, acknowledging information posted on its website last week about the risk of contracting COVID-19 from contaminated surfaces was confusing.
The CDC now says the coronavirus can "possibly" be spread on surfaces and objects, though the virus is mainly transmitted between people.
This is not the first time the nation's premier public health agency has had to reverse course on information related to the coronavirus, including the agency's evolving guidance on whether a mask should be worn in public."
One is being too close to an infected person who coughs, sneezes or spits close enough to land on your face.
Protect yourself by social distancing of 1 to 2 meters depending on to whom you listen and a shield.
Two is yourself touching something that an infected person or someone else has touched, coughed, sneezed or splattered or spat on, and then touching your face with hands that carry infection before washing or sterilising your hands.
Three is your face inadvertently touching something with the virus or being touched by infected hands.
Wearing a shield that protects from human spray and allows nothing contaminated to touch your face should be the best protection.
"So far, evidence suggests that it's harder to catch the virus from a soft surface (such as fabric) than it is from frequently touched hard surfaces like elevator buttons or door handles," wrote Lisa Maragakis, MD, senior director of infection prevention at the Johns Hopkins Health System. Source.
Although some emergency workers throw everything, they were wearing into the wash as they get home, and if the soap doesn't get the virus, the hot water above 133F or 56C will.
Not a bad idea to be super careful, but ensure that you wash your hands before removing masks or shields.
Don't forget that buttons are hard surfaces.
Your shoes can pick up the virus, so either leave them outside or wipe them with sanitiser.
The CDC recommends the general public wearing gloves only when cleaning or caring for someone who is sick.
The WHO cautions that washing your hands offers more protection against catching the coronavirus than wearing rubber gloves. It explains that COVID-19 can still be picked up on gloves and that this can be transferred to one's face. Gloves may give a "false sense of security", and washing hands is a far better precautionary measure.
Wearing gloves is of doubtful protection since the virus does not penetrate the skin, unless maybe through an open wound. For gloves to be effective, they must be removed after touching any possibly contaminated object. Much easier to wash your hands.
The main advantage or disadvantage of gloves is that some are less likely to touch your face while others are more likely when wearing them.
If you let the gloves get dirty you could be increasing the chances of spreading contamination.
Public Health England (PHE) and the World Health Organisation has also not recommended people wear gloves or face masks to protect themselves.
Lenses and your Eyes.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests that you consider "switching to glasses for a while.
"Wearing glasses may add a layer of protection.
"There's no evidence that wearing contact lenses increases your risk of coronavirus infection. But contact lens wearers touch their eyes more than the average person."
Safety glasses, which protect the exposed sides and the area around your eyes may offer better protection, health care experts say.
Keeping Covid-19 at bay when buying and consuming food. "We have no evidence that this virus is transmitted via food, or indeed food packaging," said Professor Lucia Anelich. So there's no empirical proof that anyone has contracted the virus from packaging. It's not impossible, but the chances are slim, Anelich indicates.
When asked about the effectiveness of wearing gloves during food preparation, she said years of research show that gloves offer a "false sense of security". "When people wear gloves, they tend to forget that the glove is an extension of their hand and so they will touch surfaces with the glove and then touch their faces or forget to wash their hands." She urged against wearing gloves while shopping.
"I do not disinfect (food) and I do not wash them with soap and water - that is a definite no no," said Anelich, who explained that soap is toxic to humans and should not be ingested.
In addition, what is emerging is that 90% of transmission occurs person-to-person, whether asymptomatic, symptomatic or pre-symptomatic, with only 10% from surfaces. What we also know is that frequently touched surfaces pose a greater risk than other less-touched surfaces. The chances that a specific package is frequently touched by an infected person are therefore highly remote.
This document of 29 March 2020 from the WHO discusses the various forms of infection transmission, concluding that there is unlikely to be a COVID-19 airborne transmission, but droplet transmission is common within close contact (within 1 m). Click here
This article dated 16 March 2020 concludes that airborne transmission may be possible, but not likely, and repeats the WHO instruction that COVID-19 does not require the wearing of masks.
This CDC Recommendation updated May 18, 2020 says "The contribution of small respirable particles, sometimes called aerosols or droplet nuclei, to close proximity transmission is currently uncertain. However, airborne transmission from person-to-person over long distances is unlikely."
If tiny drops generated from breathing and probably coughing containing coronavirus remain suspended for some time, then a face mask is both of use as protection against inhaling the virus and preventing spreading.
If the drops do not remain suspended for much time, a mask, especially a surgical mask will help stop a person with CO-19 from spreading, but is no protection to becoming infected, and could increase the chance of infection if the wearer adjusts the mask with contaminated fingers. Only a shield stops the wearer touching contaminated surfaces and then touching their face.
Medical personal in close contact with CO-19 patients must wear at least the N95 mask, plus a medically approved face shield.
If you're not sick but are around people who have the flu, wearing a surgical mask can help protect you from getting infected as long as it's tight-fitting. If there are gaps around the sides, then it's not helping much.
The only certain conclusion is that there is no certain conclusion yet. The WHO is slow on making any new recommendations.
Generation and Behavior of Airborne Particles (Aerosols) here.
Link to another report "Natural Ventilation for Infection Control in Health-Care Settings"
How long can virus live on surfaces?
Click her for WHO report "Is coronavirus spreading by talking and breathing?"
The WHO says "in an analysis of 75,465 COVID-19 cases in China, airborne transmission was not reported". However, this was before much was known about CO-19.
This is taken directly from a WHO report COVID-19 spreads through droplet transmission - respiratory droplets that are relatively heavy, do not travel far and fall quickly to the ground and other surfaces.
Extensive contamination of the environment can occur.
Although airborne spread seems to be unlikely in normal circumstances, further evidence is needed before it is considered an insignificant mode of transmission.
The Wells evaporation-falling curve of droplets
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC is "additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure."
The CDC recommends wearing face masks in public settings to prevent spreading the disease, even though coronavirus airborne transmission is "unlikely."
A CDC report that virus droplet nuclei aerosols can stay suspended in the air during medical procedures is probably the basis for discussion on airborne transmission as against droplet transmission.
However the WHO criticised this report since the droplets were detected near where medical procedures had taken place or where droplets were generated by a nebuliser which does not reflect normal human cough conditions. The "WHO continues to recommend droplet and contact precautions", (but not nuclei aerosol precautions.)
Routes of transmission
COVID-19 is transmitted via droplets and fomites during close unprotected contact between an infector and infectee.
Airborne spread has not been reported for COVID-19, and it is not believed to be a major driver of transmission based on available evidence; however, it can be envisaged if certain aerosol-generating procedures are conducted in health care facilities.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also released guidelines on this, saying that airborne bioaerosol transmission of COVID-19 has not been reported, except in particular circumstances like removing a patient from a ventilator or manual ventilation.
WHO advice as at 25 May 2020. Can wearing a mask protect you against coronavirus?