O debate está aberto
Grupo de autores franceses envia carta à revista Occupational and Environmental Medicine cujo título destaca a pergunta
Como os dados de transmissão aérea do SARS-CoV-2 mudam as orientações de saúde ocupacional?
How should data on airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 change occupational health guidelines?
O fato é esses autores se somam a outros que apontam como crescente o número de evidencias em favor do reconhecimento da transmissao aérea da doença, por gotículas de pequeno tamanho (< 5 micra), que podem "viajar' por longas distâncias e permanecer por horas no ar (risco maior em ambiente fechados).
Desse modo a proteção oferecida deveria ser no mínimo via máscras N95 (FFP2) por que as máscaras cirúrgicas seriam inadequadas.
Em textos anteriormente divulgados a respeito desse tema aqui no Portal Fórum AT também foram sugeridas mudanças em outras recomendações de prevenção ainda adotadas pela OMS, por exemplo, a que fala de distância física de 1m, considerada inadequada pelos autores que levantam essa lebre.
ESTAMOS DE OLHO.
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Vejam também sobre o mesmo tema.
Controversy over how COVID-19 spreads
COVID-19 has been considered as a droplet transmitted disease by WHO, which means that it can be prevented using surgical masks, hand hygiene and surface disinfection/cleaning. The droplets, expelled when we cough, sneeze and speak, quickly fall to the ground or onto other surfaces.
However, there is increasing evidence suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 (the virus) may also be found in droplet nuclei, defined by WHO as respiratory droplets smaller than 5 µm, which can travel on long distances and remain in suspension in the air for a long time. Now 239 scientists are pleading for action, warning people they are not as protected as they may think.
The scientists, from 32 different countries and many different areas of science (including virology, aerosol physics and epidemiology), have written an open letter urging the WHO to change their advice. “We ignore COVID-19 airborne spread indoors at our peril,” the scientists say.
The letter, led by internationally recognised air quality and health expert Lidia Morawska from the Queensland University of Technology, appeals to public health organisations like the WHO to address the “overwhelming” research on the dangers of microdroplets. These are the very tiny respiratory particles (of 5 microns or less in diameter) that are emitted when we breathe, speak, laugh, sing and so on. This has huge implications as because of their size, these particles remain suspended in the air for long periods, well after any person infected may have left the area. It also has implications for the PPE needed to provide adequate protection for health and other ‘frontline’ workers.
Read more: Gehanno JF, Bonneterre V, Andujar P, et al. How should data on airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 change occupational health guidelines? [Full letter pdf] Occup Environ Med July, online first; The big COVID debate dividing scientists and the WHO, The New Daily
Destaques adicionais (retirado de The big covid debate dividing scientists and the WHO)
The signatories of the letter have recommended three key ways to mitigate the risk of airborne transmission of COVID-19.
- Ventilation (maximise clean outdoor air, minimise recirculating air) particularly in public buildings, workplaces, schools, hospitals, and aged care homes
- Airborne infection controls such as local exhaust, high efficiency air filtration, and germicidal ultraviolet lights
- Avoid overcrowding, particularly in public transport and public buildings
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International unions call on WHO to revise guidelines
em 15 de julho
International unions call on WHO to revise guidelines
Until the World Health Organisation (WHO) revises its guidance on personal protective equipment, physical distancing and other protective measures in the workplace, workers will continue to die unnecessarily, global unions have warned. WHO has denied repeatedly that there is evidence for the airborne mode of transmission, instead saying the risk was limited to droplet transmission from close contact with infected individuals. This is contrary to the views of over 230 international scientists (see SafetyNet 540).The UN body has devised its recommendations on worker protection accordingly. This has meant WHO has only recommended the higher quality protections, particularly use of N95/FFP3 or better respiratory protection, for a small proportion of almost entirely health care staff involved in a small number of particularly hazardous ‘Aerosol Generating Procedures'.
However, another UN agency, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), recommends a far more protective 2 metres. ILO, unlike WHO, has a specialist workplace safety unit and consults routinely with employers and unions on its rules and guidance. UK statistics show some of the highest rates of Covid-19 have been in occupations WHO classifies as medium or low risk, including transport, construction, security and food processing workers. Global union organisations have called repeatedly for worldwide reporting, recording and recognition of Covid-19 as an occupational disease eligible for compensation.
Read more: A safe and healthy return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic, ILO policy brief, 22 May 2020. Key issues on the return to work, ITUC Covid-19 briefing, 15 May 2020. ITUC and Council of Global Unions letters calling for recognition of Covid-19 as on occupational disease.