Study finds presence of COVID-19 in air samples from hospital wards

A recent study by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has found the presence of Coronavirus in air samples from hospital wards. The CCMB-CSIR study has found that the virus was present in the air samples, particularly in the Covid wards of hospitals than the non-Covid wards.

New Delhi: At a time when the stage is all set for the rollout of Covid-19 vaccination in India, a study conducted by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has found the presence of Coronavirus in air samples from hospital wards.

"Presence of Coronavirus in the air was earlier found in congested room with the presence of Covid positive person. This new development assumes much more significance," said Dr Giridhar Gyani, director general of Association of Health Care Providers-India.

Asserting that Covid-19 is a mutating virus, Dr Gyani said that continuous study is required to monitor the continuous change in the character of the disease.

The CCMB-CSIR study has found that the virus was present in the air samples, particularly in the Covid wards of hospitals than the non-Covid wards.

"The virus was found in air for more than two hours," the findings said.

The chances of picking up SARS-CoV-2 in the air is directly related to the number of Covid positive cases in the room, their symptomatic status and the duration of exposure. "When Covid infected patients spend longer hours in a room, the virus is found in air for more than two hours, even further than two metres from where they have been seated," the study said.

It, however, said that for asymptomatic patients the virus does not spread further from where they gave been seated in a room without perceived airflow due to a fan or AC.

Scientists worked in three different hospitals in Hyderabad and Chandigarh to analyse the virus presence in air samples.

The scientist used an air sampler for collecting the virus particles and then used RT PCR to find their presence.

Factors like the distance from the individuals, ventilation in the area of sample collection, fumigation conditions, number of individuals in the room etc were also taken into consideration while sampling.

"The virus could be detected in a few hospital samples from Covid care areas but not from non-Covid areas, suggesting that demarcation of the hospital areas in these zones is a successful strategy to prevent cross infections," the study said.

The study suggested for a right amount of caution with courage backed up by sound scientific principles is the need of the hour.

The study further suggested etiquette in public and office spaces. It suggested wearing a mask in public and crowded places.