Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients in Earlier Stages Exhaled Millions of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Per Hour

Clin Infect Dis. 2021 May 18;72(10):e652-e654. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1283.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients exhaled millions of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA copies per hour, which plays an important role in COVID-19 transmission. Exhaled breath had a higher positive rate (26.9%, n = 52) than surface (5.4%, n = 242) and air (3.8%, n = 26) samples.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; airborne transmission; exhaled breath.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Humans
  • Respiratory System
  • SARS-CoV-2*