Aerosol and diagnosis specialists ANCON Medical today revealed a new aerosol modelling conducted by Dr Boris Gorbunov. The model analyses the spread of coronavirus containing aerosol particles, the effectiveness of wearing a mask and the safe distance to prevent infection. The model assumes an infected individual standing downwind of an infected individual with a wind speed of 0.66 mph. The results indicated how an individual could be exposed at what distance.
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Coronavirus could spread from person to person within 25 metres.
The analysis revealed that a person can be exposed to 100 aerosol particles containing coronavirus in a single breath at a distance of 25 metres from an uncovered cough from an infected individual.
When the infected individual is wearing a mask this falls to just five particles per breath at a distance of 25 metres.
When both the infected individual and uninfected individual are wearing masks there are zero particles per breath at a distance of three metres.
Boris Gorbunov, technical director of ANCON Medical said of this new discovery: “Current advice to keep a distance of two metres form anyone outside of your household works on the assumption of no wind conditions.
This modelling reinforces the need, not only to keep at least this distance away from others, but also to remain inside where possible, as wind can carry infected particles across large distances.
The results also indicate that a person who may or may not be carrying the virus wears a mask, the number of droplets with coronavirus which are emitted by coughing and sneezing is reduced by more than 10 times.
“Additionally, a healthy individual wearing a mask reduces the infection transmission considerably, practically to zero.
“There has also been significant discussion on how much of the virus is needed to spread the disease from person to person.
“The infectious dose, however, is still unknown, although it is thought to be relatively low due to the rapid spread of the disease.
“This makes limiting our exposure to these particles all the more important.”
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ANCON Medical’s Aero Select device mimics the action of the human respiratory system and can detect and categorise aerosol particles such as those that spread COVID-19 from the largest airborne particles to the nanometre level.
Used in conjunction with PCR testing the device can prove the presence of COVID-19 in a room, for application in places such as hospitals and further research into the size of the particle which carries the disease; aiding in the development of research into transmission.
How the model works
The aerosol dispersion processes were modelled employing Comsol v5.5 comprising urban atmospheric dispersion of trace species and fluid dynamics.
The modelling enables calculation of the concentration of aerosol particles laden with COVID-19 around a virus carrier.
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