We regularly answer frequently asked questions about life during COVID-19. If you have a question you'd like to be considered for a future post, please email me at: sheepsandsoda@npr.org The title is “Coronavirus Questions.” reference FAQ Archive here.
We all remember the early days of the pandemic. I used to run outside with a mask on when there were no people around. (Imagine the relief you feel knowing that outdoor air effectively disperses pathogens.) You wiped down your groceries in case they were contaminated. (Experts now say it makes sense to wash your hands thoroughly after touching something.)
And I tried to stay six feet away from everyone in public. This is what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends for 2020. Remember to put tape on the sidewalks leading to the bank and the grocery store checkout counters so you don't accidentally get too close to the next person.
And in a newly released transcript of a congressional hearing earlier this year, Dr. Anthony Fauci said the 6-foot rule “sort of just came along” and was “not based on data.”
People who never liked physical distancing were very happy! Haha, the CDC is wrong!
Now we are in the summer of 2024. New, more contagious variants of COVID-19 are circulating, and the CDC is predicting a summer surge.
This new variant is not considered as likely to cause serious illness as past variants. However, some people are at greater risk of severe COVID-19 due to age or frailty. And no one wants to get sick right before or during a trip.
So a frequently asked question is, ‘Is keeping your distance from others who might have COVID-19 helpful in any way?’ Or has the concept of distance been proven false?
To answer these questions, let's first dig into the streets.
Did you just pull “six feet” out of a hat?
The idea behind the CDC recommendations is that putting space between yourself and others is a way to avoid pathogens given off by people with COVID-19.
Was 6 feet just a made up number? In the end, the World Health Organization (WHO) suggested only 3 feet as a safety zone.
A somewhat strange (and relatively old) history lesson may provide a clue.
In the late 1800s, scientists asked people to rinse their mouths with bacteria (editor's note: ugh) and just talk. crazy!
And what happened? “They saw bacteria landing on the dish up to about 6 feet away,” says Linsey Marr, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech and an aerosol expert.
“But if we waited longer (several hours) to collect the dishes, allowing the respiratory particles time to float around the room and settle, we could see bacteria landing on the dishes from much further away than 6 feet,” she adds. .
That's right. Six feet is not a magic number for avoiding airborne pathogens.
It's not like if you go one more inch you're suddenly in the danger zone. It's similar to a speed limit, says Dr. Abraar Karan, infectious disease fellow at Stanford University. “There is no data to suggest that 55 mph is significantly safer than 56 mph, but there should be a reasonable cutoff.”
The ABCs of Transmission
Now let’s take a detour from afar and think about how COVID-19 spreads. Early in the pandemic, the idea was that sick people expelled relatively large, wet droplets that could come into contact with other people. These water droplets eventually fall to the ground due to gravity.
But in 2024, there isn't much evidence to support that route of transmission, Marr says. (She received a MacArthur “genius” grant last year for her research.)
How far can aerosols fly? “The distance depends on size and airflow,” she says. “Their path can easily be hundreds of feet before it reaches the ground.”
So, in theory, you could be more than six feet away from a sick person and still fall victim to the pathogens they are giving off. but … .
Why distance still matters
The problem is: Despite revised understanding of the spread of COVID-19, the closer you are to someone with COVID-19, the higher your risk of infection.
“The further away you are from an infected person, the more diluted the aerosol becomes, making it more likely to be inhaled. [particles] It generally decreases with increasing distance,” Marr says.
Metaphorically, Marr suggests thinking about cigarette smoke. Smaller corona particles “behave like cigarette smoke. If you are close to someone emitting loud smoke, you will be exposed to more than if you are further away. “The further away the better.”
Need more convincing? One infected passenger in business class In a study of COVID-19 transmission on airplanes, a passenger infected with the virus also sat in business class. Research published in emerging infectious diseases As reported in 2020, “We found a clear link between sitting close to Case 1 and the risk of infection.”
Let me summarize what Marr said: “Distance is important, but there’s nothing magical about six feet.”
And here are Karan's observations: “People have always known this. Stay away from people who look visibly sick.” And while family and friends may warn you to stay away if you're sick, you can't expect that to happen in a large gathering of strangers.
Multiple layers of safety
Conclusion: Maintaining some distance from others can be helpful, but should be viewed as part of a quiver of strategies to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19.
The length of exposure to a sick person is important. Even if you run into a store and pass a customer who could be infected with coronavirus or another disease, your chances of getting infected are “very low,” Karan says. The shorter the time, the better (again, there is no magic number).
You may want to continue gatherings outdoors. Outdoor air is your best friend when it comes to dispersing pathogens.
If you've had COVID-19 or been vaccinated, it may help you fight off a new infection, or at least reduce the severity of your illness if you catch the virus.
A good mask (think N95 or K95) that fits well and is worn properly (so nostrils stick out) is the gold standard. You can't always control the distance factor, says infectious disease professor Dr. Preeti Malani, University of Michigan. “But masks are incredibly effective,” she says. “And how much does it cost to wear a mask on a plane? “Nothing, really!”
Abraar Karan points out that he and his colleagues at the hospital where he works wear masks when seeing patients with respiratory illnesses, but they are not infected with COVID-19.
And keep a few COVID tests handy in your home or travel gear in case you have allergies, colds, or COVID-19-like symptoms.
How do you know what to do? Our experts say: It's up to you.
“If you’re worried about COVID, you’re the one to blame,” Malani says. “Others won’t protect you.”
Protection measures can be strengthened in the following cases:
Because of your age or medical history, you may be at higher risk for serious illness.
You are the one caring for someone at risk.
You'll venture into indoor venues filled with unfamiliar people, including gyms, rock concerts, crowded buses, subways, and airplanes.
You're planning a trip or family gathering and don't want to accidentally infect more vulnerable family members.
There are also things we can do for the benefit of humanity. And that includes distance.
“I cannot stress this enough,” says Malani. “If you don’t feel well, don’t put others at risk.” In other words, stay home!