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Coronavirus

Hard to spread Corvid 19 outside (an OPINION)

(32 Posts)
GagaJo Fri 03-Jul-20 09:25:57

Link below BUT also copied and pasted. Nice to read something positive for a change.

cliffmass.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-safety-of-outdoor-air-for.html

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

There is now powerful observational evidence that outdoor air is extraordinary safe regarding COVID-19, and the recent protests have helped provide it. The protests/riots began in Seattle and other cities on May 26th. Thousands gathered without social distancing and a good 10% had no masks. They participated in chanting, singing, screaming and other activities that ensured plenty of droplets were injected in the air, and that unhealthful environment was "enhanced" by coughing from tear gas and other agents.

Did this huge exposure result in increased spread of COVID-19? The answer is clearly no.

Consider Washington's King County, a hotbed of protests starting 26 May (see below). Both hospitalizations and deaths showed no upward spike after the protests (the blue line shows May 26th). We should have seen a signal by now, since the average time to symptoms is approximately five days.

It is important to note that the number of COVID-19 cases is going up modestly in King County, but that is being driven by a near doubling of tests (note that the bottom graph starts earlier). Much of the media neglects to note the importance of increased testing in finding more cases.

This lack of a coronavirus spike has been noted in every major city in the U.S., something discussed in the Seattle Times today and in many media outlets.

These are huge number of independent experiments in varying environments and climates. A very good sample. And the obvious conclusion is that COVID-19 has a very difficult time spreading in outdoor air. There is no other explanation.

Some of you might argue that many of the protestors were young and so would not get very ill. True enough. But young people can get sick from it and they could certainly give it to their parents, neighbors, and folks in food stores and restaurants. There were plenty of teenagers and folks in their early 20s still living at home who were at the protests.

You want more evidence? No problem. About a month ago, there was a huge media commotion about "irresponsible" outdoor parties at Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks. Several media outlets promised a huge uptick in COVID-19 cases.

What actually happened? Nothing. No spike of COVID-19 cases in the neighboring counties. Outdoor air is safe.

janipat Fri 03-Jul-20 16:47:02

Not sure I'd totally agree with this, but I agree it is less easily spread outdoors than in. If this is true, apart from the appalling mess they left, I suppose it gives a pass to all those who flocked to the beaches when the weather was hot.

MawB Fri 03-Jul-20 17:01:16

Crows would appear safe then

lemongrove Fri 03-Jul-20 17:03:02

We have loads of corvids flying about here Gaga??

Since all the marches and protests/ packed beaches/ raves we haven’t seen the numbers testing positive falling have we?
It is safer outside but not safe.

lemongrove Fri 03-Jul-20 17:03:30

X posts MawB ?

Buffybee Fri 03-Jul-20 17:04:59

And probably Rooks and Magpies too MawB ?
Sorry! Just had to..

Namsnanny Fri 03-Jul-20 17:06:52

Thank you Gagajo .... any information puts us all in a better place.

Well you could be generous to the crowds on the beaches janipat as you said, and give them a pass.
But the article still suggest social distancing has a place in the protection against C19 and there wasnt much of that going on!
Silly beggers!

janipat Fri 03-Jul-20 17:22:41

Namsnanny I'm not that generous wink, because none of them, protestors, beach goers etc were doing it from an informed position. Social distancing and masks, along with hand washing are the best defence, so you won't find me joining any throngs for a while!

BlueSky Fri 03-Jul-20 19:35:28

FB friends in Italy tell me that masks were compulsory even outdoors now they are no longer mandatory outside unless you cannot maintain a safe distance or you stop and talk to somebody. Of course towns are heavily policed and they know they can be fined.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 03-Jul-20 19:39:52

Robert Peston posted this

Jane10 Fri 03-Jul-20 19:53:16

I was amazed to hear that cricket wasn't allowed!

GagaJo Fri 03-Jul-20 23:03:30

I've been spending a fair bit of time outside. Making an effort to go places where there will be no other people, but that's my preference at any time, regardless of C19.

I dread to think how the numbers will spike after tomorrow's debauchery. Super spreader Saturday.

janipat Fri 03-Jul-20 23:21:42

Seems as if the death rate is increasing so maybe recent activities have had an impact?

suziewoozie Fri 03-Jul-20 23:41:16

Apparently there were worries about cricket because the disgusting players keep spitting on the ball Yuk!!

Franbern Sat 04-Jul-20 09:08:35

cricket now permitted. But still cannot go to swimming pools where everyone is covered in bleach (chlorine),

I am also rather confused - two family groups may meet up outside but no more than six people. However groups of up to 30 are now permitted to groups together!!!!q

Urmstongran Sat 04-Jul-20 10:06:47

What’s debauched about hairdressers?
???

Callistemon Sat 04-Jul-20 10:27:23

Urmstongran

What’s debauched about hairdressers?
???

I think I'll take any advice coming out of America with a dose of disinfectant.

debauched hairdresser
I'll ask my hairdresser when I get to see him (which may not be for some time).
Or perhaps not, as I went be able to see what he's doing to the back of my hair.

MayBee70 Sun 05-Jul-20 19:33:13

If young people at the protests could be largely asymptomatic then it will take the time for their older relatives/contacts to incubate the virus and then become ill/hospitalised for the numbers to increase. So, although it’s obviously safer outdoors I’m still going to be careful. And I still want people that pass me on the pavement be they walking, jogging or cycling to social distance themselves from me. Which they don’t, alas, do.

GagaJo Sun 05-Jul-20 19:43:47

Absolutely MayBee. I shy away in horror when people come too close to me.

BlueSky Sun 05-Jul-20 22:15:45

This social distancing suits me anyway. Even before Covid I used to recoil in horror when people got close or sat next to me. I'll keep it two meters thanks!

EllanVannin Sun 05-Jul-20 22:36:10

I don't think outdoor air is safe at all. This pandemic is airborne.

GagaJo Sun 05-Jul-20 23:14:17

I was thinking something very similar myself today BlueSky. I prefer my own company to that of others.

BlueSky Sun 05-Jul-20 23:27:21

Ellan hopefully not otherwise we shouldn't even open windows!

SueDonim Sun 05-Jul-20 23:39:31

I thought it was droplet-borne. If it’s airborne - we’re all going to get it. sad

GagaJo Sun 05-Jul-20 23:51:43

I watched this weeks ago and found it very interesting. Took me ages to find it again. The droplets do carry the virus BUT are carried away by airflow, hence needing to leave windows open.

petapixel.com/2020/04/03/scientists-use-high-sensitivity-camera-to-capture-microdroplets-that-may-transmit-virus/

Having said that, I have also watched a video showing droplets carried in the slipstream of someone walking/running. Best avoided.