COVID-19 Can Spread In The Air, Experts: The Most Effective Prevention Using A Mask

Illustration (Angga Nugraha / VOI)

JAKARTA - Member of the Team of Medical Experts from the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19 I Gusti Ngurah Kade Mahardika said the use of masks is the safest way to prevent transmission of the corona virus. Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that the virus can be transmitted through the air.

"When all the activities that have the potential to release the virus, if you wear a mask, the droplets will be collected and the possibility to be transmitted is much smaller. So, if you are asked about prevention, I suggest you keep wearing a mask," said Mahardika in a discussion at Graha BNPB, East Jakarta. , Friday, July 10.

Mahardika said viruses that attack the respiratory tract like COVID-19 actually have the opportunity not only to be contaminated through droplets, but also aerosols. Aerosols are very small respiratory droplets.

If the droplet can fall over a distance of 1 to 2 meters, the aerosol can still fly through the air for some time. Then, Aerosol is more likely to spread in a closed room.

"Actually, WHO has never said that aerosol potential does not exist. However, virologically, aerosols usually (exist) in closed rooms such as buses, office spaces, or restaurants that use air conditioner," said Mahardika.

In activities in closed spaces such as public transportation and offices, Mahardika suggests that people use open air ventilation more.

If there is no opportunity to use open air in the room, the use of an exhaust fan can be used so that the air circulation inside can be replaced with outside air. So, the possibility of spreading COVID-19 can be minimized.

"The simple way is to use natural air ventilation. Because if it is cold and humid, the virus can withstand it. With open ventilation, the virus concentration will be less," Mahardika explained.

However, there are other interventions that can be used, namely the use of portable ultraviolet light. However, this UV light can only be used if the room is not occupied.

"This virus is unstable because it has a fat covering, it dislikes ultraviolet, social distance, so he likes the crowd so much that ultraviolet kills this virus immediately," said Mahardika.

"As long as there are no humans, it is very safe and cheap. Our experience in using UV lamps, after we work, they can be used. So, we can stop virus contamination," he added.