How threatening is COVID-19 if it's airborne? | COVID-19 Ask an expert

CBC's medical contributor Dr. Peter Lin takes viewers' questions, including: How risky is it to go to a mall?



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[awangie]

*Lets be honest, we all knew it was airborne from the start.*

[charliecharlton]

Everyone is carrying on as if it's new but we have known since the cruise ships that it was spreading through the vents.

[ajcook]

You are just putting this out now? We've known this for months...WTF

[laubowiebass]

When I saw doctors getting sick and dying in Italy, I figured out it was airborne. I can’t believe it took so long for the world to figure it out.
I know scientific research takes time, I’m still surprised more people didn’t take it seriously when Italian doctors started dying. Being safe doesn’t take hurt.

[grunf]

I live on the 10th floor of a high rise. I use the stairs so I am not putting myself in a closed environment. Besides, its a good cardio workout and saves energy. I’m sixty and have no problem with it. If I have 2 arms full if groceries I do take the elevator up but get out if it stops and others try to enter. I just wait for the next one. No big deal as what is 2 minutes compared to compromising my safety. I actually appreciate the extra exercise I am getting. Not everyone can do this but if they can then why not?

[eugenes]

Even CHINA knew this, in February! Why the hell are our experts behind the curb?

[ramseydarkstar]

The amount of time spent somewhere makes no difference if the air was contaminated. someone that has the virus could walk in a place for 2 minutes and contaminate the place for everyone.

[maxschil]

Didn’t we already know this before the US even had it?

[coralgrogg]

Thank you for asking the question about airflow/ventilation systems. So important in considering reopening schools. And since this is a consideration for schools, then it applies to offices as well.

[marcellofunhouse]

if it was airborne? i would of got it by now i still don't have it and i don't wear a mask when i go outside

[shkafishkafnjakboz]

I don't know how did we not solve this problem with all the" experts "on COVID. Just here if you read comments you can tell how many specialists we have on Corona virus.

[pennyc]

Of course if you're sitting next to someone at work for eight hrs you can breath in their air so what is the threshold amount of time to breath in the air of someone next to you? When taking public transport for example. I'm assuming you will be breathing in someone elses air for the whole ride whether it's a 5 minute or 15 minute ride.

[susanb]

how do people working in malls protect themselves, especially since they cannot keep out patr9ns without masks?

[Buzzby]

People don't seem to be considering that children aren't the only people inside a school environment. Teachers, administrators, and other staff are present as well. Children may be largely asymptomatic, but they can still pass on the virus to the adults. I worry for my daughter, a teacher, who had problems with asthma earlier in her life.

[fluu]

I don't think back to school is going to work, because if one person in school test positive the whole school would have to shut down for 14 days. And the parents of those students may even have to be quarantine for 14 days.

[An__-]

Ventilation is so poor in old schools. With classrooms crowded and ventilation poor I worried that this is a disaster waiting to happen.

[petey]

Of all the experts I heard, Dr Lin is the most knowledgeable.

[bradley]

You can help Canadians first by listening to us it’s almost like we are being pushed in certain circumstances even though we said 🛑 it’s going to become increasingly dangerous if this continues all you have to do is watch this YouTube clip and you will figure out what I’m talking about

[TruFilmProductions]

By the time someone finds out they are infected(days later) it will be too late. Many will be infected. Plus, you have to worry about the asymptomatic.

[Huntgolfride]

None of this explains the low transmission rate of the Diamond Princess and the US aircraft carrier where people where jammed together in tiny barracks but hardly had any transmission.