14 ms·
The info from China shows that it spreads primarily through inhaling droplets, not through touching surfaces. Which is why I expect the epidemic to be way way
by hditorkeif 7y ago
The info from China shows that it spreads primarily through inhaling droplets, not through touching surfaces.
Which is why I expect the epidemic to be way way worse outside of Asia, since in the West people don't wear masks and are actively discouraged by the health authorities.
- eloff 7y agoI've heard the exact opposite. It spreads through droplets, but mostly through touch, not inhaling. Do you have a source?
- hnhg 7y agoThe WHO agrees with the OP: 'Both COVID-19 and influenza cause respiratory disease and spread the same way, via small droplets of fluid from the nose and mouth of someone who is sick.' https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---3-march-2020 https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-... [Edit: however, I could see both of you being right with this quote]
- hditorkeif 7y agohttps://twitter.com/CDCgov/status/1236306611527798784 https://twitter.com/CDCgov/status/1236306611527798784
- bhaak 7y agoI don't know how much you can chalk up to people wearing masks or rather the swift and rigorous isolation of affected areas. I guess, we'll see soon enough how Italy is doing. FWIW in Switzerland, the authorities recommend "social distancing". https://foph-coronavirus.ch/ https://foph-coronavirus.ch/
- dillonmckay 7y agoFrom what I have observed, it seems both South Korea’s and China’s outbreaks are largest among cities near rivers. I have also read of the virus being detected in feces. Is it possible the virus is being spread via the water supply? The waste treatment plants dump into the river, as well as septic runoff, and humans just deciding to defecate in or near the rivers. Additionally, if it is possible for dogs to carry the virus, I assume it could be excreted via canine feces, as well. If the water treatment plants are also using the river as the source of water, what prevents the virus from spreading this way?
- wbl 7y agoChlorine. They put it in water for a reason.
- dillonmckay 7y agoI upvoted you... Right, but Chlorine is only effective against certain types of virii. Some municipalities instead use some sort of chloramine, or both. In, addition, neither of these is effective on some virii, so UV is used also. I am no expert, but from what I have read so far, depending on the virus, the above solutions differ in effectiveness.
- wavepruner 7y agoI'm an environmental engineer with some experience in drinking water treatment. I doubt it's in the drinking water. One of the oldest drinking water treatment methods would remove the virus: slow-sand filtration. Most places in China would at least use this, and South Korea is likely using more advanced technology.
- dillonmckay 7y agoI understand that is an older method, but I would be surprised if it is the method of choice for these cities. What do you consider ‘advanced technology’?
- wavepruner 7y agoI studied drinking water treatment in school and worked on a treatment plant design in Ecuador, so I do not have professional experience inside the current modern industry. But as far as I know slow-sand filtration and it's variants are still commonly used. Most of the improvements come from additional processes. Improvements on slow-sand filtration are from additional pre-treatment methods, disinfection, more advanced filtration media like activated charcoal, and additional stages of filtration using a variety of media. Some high tech treatment plants are using biological membranes for wastewater-to-drinking-water treatment, but that's quite rare as far as I know. Here's a decent primer of the commonly used processes: https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/water_treatment.html https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/water_treat...