Key Factors for Airborne Virus Survival Uncovered by Scientists
Scientists at the University of Bristol have discovered critical factors that determine the survival of airborne viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. The research shows that cleaner air kills the virus significantly quicker and that opening a window may be more important than originally thought. The study also found that the high pH of exhaled aerosol droplets containing the virus is likely a major driver of the loss of infectiousness, and that each of the SARS-CoV-2 variants has different stabilities while airborne, correlated with their sensitivities to alkaline pH conditions. The findings could shape future mitigation strategies for new viruses.