UTSA study shows airborne coronavirus particles could travel more than a mile - KSAT San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO – Airborne coronavirus particles could travel for more than a mile, depending on weather conditions, according to a new study authored by a UTSA associate professor of mechanical engineering.

The peer-reviewed study, authored by Kiran Bhaganagar and her graduate student, Sudheer Bhimireddy, used meteorological data from New York City in March and April to run computer simulations on how the weather patterns would affect the airborne plumes of virus particles -- hundreds of thousands of which could be expelled in a single cough.

“From the initial time of release, the virus can spread up to 30 min in the air, covering a 200-m radius at a time, moving 1–2 km from the original source,” according to the study.

Though prevention efforts have focused on avoiding close contact with infected people, there has also been discussion over the possibility of airborne spread of the coronavirus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published, then retracted, statements on its website earlier this month that seemed to indicate it believed the virus could hang around in the air and spread over an extended distance, according to an Associated Press report