The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its guidelines once more this week, now saying that Covid19 can sometimes spread through the air. It is the third time this guidance has changed in the span of a month.
The CDC withdrew guidance in September that warned Covid19 could be spread through the air, saying the guidance was “posted in error.”
In a reversal of that position, the CDC now says the virus can be spread through the air.
“These transmissions occurred within enclosed spaces that had inadequate ventilation,” the CDC now says. “Sometimes the infected person was breathing heavily, for example while singing or exercising.”
Some medical professionals advise the term “airborne” should not be as fear-inducing as it may sound.
“It just means you have to add some additional controls to what you’re doing,” said Joseph Allen, a health scientist director of Harvard University’s Healthy Buildings program. “Wear a mask, keep your distance, wash your hands, and bring in a bit more outdoor air.”