Take it from the World Health Organization, claims that the coronavirus strain that causes COVID-19 is airborne lacks evidence. The SARS-Cov-2 virus is spread through droplets from the nose and mouth, the agency's representative in the Philippines said Wednesday.
This means current precautions against COVID-19 are still appropriate, including the wearing of face masks, frequent handwashing and keeping at least three feet apart from others in public places. Additional measures are needed against an airborne virus, according to experts.
“If it’s airborne the virus should be circulating in the air for several hours, like we see for measles and other airborne diseases. We have not seen that in COVID-19. It has not been shown. We don’t have evidence yet,” said Rabindra Abiyasinghe, acting WHO representative to the Philippines.
There's evidence that micro droplets in closed settings can cause infection "but that's not strictly airborne," he said.
On Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte reminded the public to wear face masks in public. Those who refuse could be arrested he said. Later in the day, the Department of Health said confirmed infections breached the 70,000-mark.