1/ The error conflating short-range airborne transmission (aerosol inhalation) with large droplet (sprayborne) transmission is alive an well in this Facebook post from a Philippines Government advisor:
[Can't reply there, so I will here]
2/ He is strangely defining airborne as ONLY long range. That makes no sense.
The protection measures depend on the mechanism, NOT ON THE DISTANCE.
3 key mechanisms per @CDCgov
(1) Aerosol inhalation
(2) Large droplet spray
(3) Surface touch
cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…
3/ It is clear that aerosol inhalation, i.e. airborne transmission (at ALL DISTANCES) is the dominant mode of transmission. There is overwhelming evidence of this, e.g.:
4/ Here we have some Harvard infection prevention doctors telling us the same thing, but with a focus on transmission in hospitals
Note that the REAL "aerosol generating procedures" are talking, singing, exercise... and for the most part NOT the AGMPs
dx.doi.org/10.7326/M21-27…
5/ Aerosol inhalation can happen at 3 distances:
(a) close proximity, important (low dilution of exhaled virus-containing aerosols)
(b) shared-room air, more dilution but more time + people (ALL superspreading, as we have shown recently, see thread)
6/ (c) Longer-range, when people not sharing room air at the same time. This also happens, there are many documented cases (see see case in quarantine hotel linked). But thought to be a smaller fraction of transmission, because of high dilution.
7/ To protect from inhalation need GOOD FITTING & FILTERING MASKS (e.g. N95) at ALL DISTANCES
Makes no sense to say that if transmission happens close to the person, i'ts droplet transmission & surgical masks ok
How can we have superspread w/o high aerosols in close proximity?
8/ I was talking to a Filipino colleague who lamented "the Philippines is really unfortunate to have these people providing erroneous public health messages"
Unfortunately they are not alone by a long shot!
That's why we have #COVIDHallofShame (> 120)
9/ In fact I'd say that the Filipino situation is better than others. Those experts present erroneous information very clearly. So one can point out errors & debate
But others (#BonnieHenry comes to mind, but many more) present unintelligible word salads & alternative facts
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