An interesting El Pais article discusses how the coronavirus may be spreading and statistically putting everyone at risk, especially with the holidays upon us! Here are a few facts that I found interesting!

Social Gathering in a living room:

Six people get together in a private home, one is infected. Some 31% of coronavirus outbreaks recorded in Spain are caused by this kind of gathering, mainly between family and friends.

After four hours without safety measures:

Irrespective of whether safe distances are maintained, if the six people spend four hours together talking loudly, without wearing a face mask in a room with no ventilation, five will become infected.

Only face masks used:

If face masks are worn, four people are at risk of infection. Masks alone will not prevent infection if the exposure is prolonged.

Ventilating space and reducing duration:

The risk of infection drops to below one when the group uses face masks, shortens the length of the gathering by half and ventilates the space used.

The coronavirus is spread through the air, especially in indoor spaces. White it is not as infectious as measles, scientists now openly acknowledge the role played by the transmission of aerosols, tiny contagious particles exhaled by an infected person that remain suspended in the air of an indoor environment.

Aerosols – These respiratory droplets that are less than 100 micrometers in diameter that can remain suspended in the air for hours.

1,200 aerosols are released for each droplet

Droplets – These are particles that are larger than 300 micrometers and due to air currents, fall to the ground in seconds.