You don't have to cough or spit to aerosolize COVID

[McCamy Taylor]

Scientists knew this already but thank you to the WaPo for this article

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/experiment-shows-human-speech-generates-droplets-that-linger-in-the-air-for-more-than-8-minutes/2020/05/13/7f293ba2-9557-11ea-82b4-c8db161ff6e5_story.html

Ordinary speech can emit small respiratory droplets that linger in the air for at least eight minutes and potentially much longer, according to a study published Wednesday that could help explain why infections of the coronavirus so often cluster in nursing homes, households, conferences, cruise ships and other confined spaces with limited air circulation.

The report, from researchers at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the University of Pennsylvania, was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a peer-reviewed journal. It is based on an experiment that used laser light to study the number of small respiratory droplets emitted through human speech.

The answer: a lot.

“Highly sensitive laser light scattering observations have revealed that loud speech can emit thousands of oral fluid droplets per second,” the report states.

Wear the fucking mask.

[BigmanPigman]

1. What is "shedding" of the virus?

I know that this happens but I don't know if this is from speaking or breathing normally.

[elleng]

3. 'Viral shedding refers to the expulsion and release of virus progeny

following successful reproduction during a host-cell infection. Once replication has been completed and the host cell is exhausted of all resources in making viral progeny, the viruses may begin to leave the cell by several methods.' Wikipedia

[BigmanPigman]

5. I actually understood that. Thanks!

[elleng]

2. I don't speak that loudly!

[Blue_true]

9. Do you ever open your mouth and have tongue motion, even without talking?

A simple flick of the tongue in an open mouth can release tens of thousands of small particles.

It annoys me when I am out shopping and people are eating something that they brought from home, pilfered or were given from store demos. Such people are likely releasing millions of particles during the process of eating.

[Cirque du So-What]

4. Singing seems a likely way to produce droplets too

In a sane world, one would expect changes to church choirs in response to the spread of coronavirus.

[live love laugh]

6. There are SOOOooo many covidiots mindlessly talking on cell phones in stores.

I especially hate to get in line and have somebody come behind me talking on a phone oblivious to their surroundings.

[Blue_true]

10. Yep. That releases buttloads of small particles. nt

[LastDemocratInSC]

7. Vocal cords can vibrate at high frequencies during speech and singing.

And the louder one's voice the more energy in the cords. All of this combined leads to aerosolization of anything on the vocal cords.

[Blue_true]

8. Not only speech. Just opening the mouth and having tongue motion can release

Tens of thousands of small particles in one burst. How many people open their mouths when out shopping? My guess, likely 100% of the people in the store.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

11. This further indicates the need for daily trump rallies.