University of Colorado professor sharpens BC government criticism of factors that stimulate transmission of COVID-19

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An American atmospheric chemistry researcher has denounced the BC government’s response to what he believes is overwhelming evidence of airborne transmission of COVID-19.

University of Colorado at Boulder chemistry and biochemistry professor Jose-Luis Jimenez tweeted on September 5 that he has been following the situation in British Columbia for over a year.

He claimed that BC provincial health worker Dr Bonnie Henry has denied aerosol transmission of COVID-19 for over a year, which is even longer than the Organization world health had denied.

Jimenez, a member of his university’s Cooperative Environmental Sciences Research Institute, went on to accuse the BC government of being one of the most backward-looking leaders on this issue on Earth.

https://twitter.com/jljcolorado/status/1434626467338489857

His comment came after the Straight emailed him a statement from the Department of Health, which insisted that physical distancing, hand washing and staying home if you are sick are the most effective ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Jimenez is the lead author of a recently written article, Echoes Across Time: The Historical Origins of Droplet Dogma and Its Role in the Misidentification of Airborne Respiratory Infection Transmission, which has come under scrutiny by pairs.

There are 22 other authors from the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia, including outspoken mask supporter Dr Trish Greenhalgh from the University of Oxford and infectious disease specialist David Fisman from the University of Toronto.

Resistance to the idea of ​​airborne spread of respiratory infection is not new, the researchers write in the journal. In fact, this has happened several times over much of the last century and has greatly hampered the understanding of how diseases are transmitted.

They note that the World Health Organization initially said that the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, is transmitted by large droplets that fall to the ground near the infected person, as well as by surface contact.

In fact, they add, the WHO categorically declared on March 28, 2020 that it was not airborne, except in connection with aerosol-generating medical procedures, a view repeatedly echoed by the government of the United States. British Columbia.

This opinion conflicted with that of many scientists who said airborne transmission was a significant contributor, the researchers say in the document. Over time, WHO gradually relaxed this position: first by conceding that airborne transmission was possible but unlikely; then, without explanation, promoting the role of ventilation in controlling the spread of the virus, which is only useful for controlling airborne pathogens; and, finally, to declare on April 30, 2021 that the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by aerosols is important.

According to the document, this slow and haphazard acceptance of evidence of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by major public health organizations has contributed to sub-optimal control of the pandemic.

Faster acceptance of this evidence would have encouraged guidelines that distinguished between indoor and outdoor rules, a greater focus on outdoor activities, earlier recommendation for masks, as well as rules for the outdoors. wearing the mask indoors even when social distancing could be maintained, ventilation and filtration, the researchers say. Earlier acceptance would have avoided the excessive time and money spent on measures such as surface disinfection and plexiglass barriers, which are ineffective for airborne transmission and, in the case of the latter, may even be counterproductive. productive.

Jimenez tweeted some of the newspaper’s points in a long thread in May, which the Straight covered. In July, Greenhalgh posted a thread of 82 tweets about masks, super-spreader events, and airborne COVID-19.

The Department of Health statement, which was sent to Straight on September 2, said masks are not a substitute for hand washing, physical distancing and staying home when sick, but can offer an additional layer of protection. The Department of Health’s position is that N95 medical respirators should be reserved for healthcare providers who need protection from aerosol-generating medical procedures.

Jimenez responded by saying it’s amazing they always say hand washing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread, or that it’s better than masks.

He cited articles on the US Centers for Disease Control website and in the journal Nature noting that the transmission of COVID-19 through surfaces is difficult and that there are no cases of transmissions of surface demonstrated to date.

He pointed out that while aerosols can infect, good masks are an essential layer of protection, and one of the most important, along with distance, outside encounters when possible, and ventilation / filtration of the skin. indoor air.

There is no longer a shortage of N95 masks, in fact there are some American manufacturers who have millions in stock and cannot sell them, Jimenez added. We therefore believe that we should recommend the N95 to anyone who will find themselves in a risk situation (for example, in healthcare, in schools, in jobs where air is shared with others for long periods of time. periods, etc.).

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