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I'm reminded of the research from decades ago on the size of infectious particles for airborne disease transmission. Animals were exposed to droplets containing
by Zak 4y ago
I'm reminded of the research from decades ago on the size of infectious particles for airborne disease transmission. Animals were exposed to droplets containing tuberculosis, producing a model for whether other diseases could be transmitted through the air.
That model said COVID-19 could not, which we now know is entirely wrong. As it turns out, tuberculosis must travel deep into the lungs to produce an infection, which is not true for every pathogen.
It's important to check the assumptions underlying new research and make sure they really apply.
- jamisteven 4y agoWe now know what is entirely wrong?
- Zak 4y agoThe model predicted COVID-19 could not be transmitted through the air. The model was wrong; COVID-19 is highly transmissible through the air.
- tough 4y agoThe map is never the territory
- peteradio 4y agoGood models are useful.
- tivert 4y ago> The model predicted COVID-19 could not be transmitted through the air. The model was wrong; COVID-19 is highly transmissible through the air. I'm not sure if that's the best way to put it. IIRC, the controversy was if COVID could spread through the air in the form of an aerosol or if it could only spread in the form of droplets. Droplets can't travel as far in the air, and their limitations were the basis of the "6ft social distancing" rules. It turns out COVID can spread as an aerosol, even though that was strongly denied during the early phases of the pandemic.