Why we transfer many activities to the outside should

While the Coronavirus pandemic, it is of particular importance to know where and in what situations is the risk of contagion is highest. In a current Japanese research has investigated situations in which people with SARS-CoV-2 have been infected. This showed that the probability to become infected in the interior, is about 19 times higher, than in the fresh air.

Japanese Researchers from the National Institute of Infectious Disease and the National Institute of Public Health searched for common characteristics that lead to Transmission of the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 from a Person to one or more other persons. It turned out that COVID-19 is transferred in a closed environment to 18.7 times more likely than in a free air environment. The results of the study on the Preprint server “MedRxiv” can be viewed.

Infectious Events

The big risk during a pandemic are the so-called “super spreading events”. Refers to situations in which an infected Person within a short time many other people will infect you with a disease. In the early stages of the Coronavirus pandemic such incidents occurred, for example, at the carnival in Heinsberg or at the Après-Ski in Ischgl.

But in the last days and weeks, it came to such events where many people plugged in at once, for example during a Party at a Restaurant in lower Saxony, Germany, for samples of the choir of the Berlin Domkantorei or a Baptist worship service in Frankfurt.

Indoor spaces as the common characteristics

What unites these events? They all took place in closed rooms. This is also the recent study from Japan highlights. The researchers studied cases, the relationships of 110 COVID-19 -. In cases were 27 Primary, a total of 83 persons. On closer inspection, showed that the Transfers of spaces, predominantly in the interior took place. Overall, only a case in which a Person is infected in a free air environment came to 18.7 transfer cases indoors.

Enclosed spaces increase the risk of infection

The research team considers it plausible that a closed environment increases the risk of Infection from COVID-19 massif,. Also, the risk for “super spreading events” increases when infected and not infecting people stay together indoors, in spaces.

Limitations of the study

The study has been published only as a pre-publication on a Preprint Server. A Review by other scientists is therefore likely that, before the research work can be published in a recognized Journal. The virologist and Coronavirus expert, Professor Dr. Christian Drosten has looked at the study and considers the results to be “robust and interesting,” as he reported in the Coronavirus-Podcast of the NDR. (vb)