The thesis of a Belgian professor causes uncertainty: cycling should increase the risk of contracting Covid-19 immensely. Virologists have a clear message.
- Exercise outdoors is recommended in times of the coronavirus pandemic because it strengthens the immune system *.
- However, distance rules still apply: at least 1.5 meters should be placed between yourself and others to minimize the risk of infection by corona viruses.
- However, a new study from a neighboring European country comes to the conclusion that this is not enough for cyclists.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) as the federal authority for infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases reports that the main transmission route of coronaviruses is primarily droplet infection *, i.e. if the virus gets into the air, for example due to the cough of an infected person , from there to the mucous membranes of the eyes , Hit the mouth and nose of other people and thus penetrate the body *. In order to avoid this route of infection as much as possible, strict exit restrictions and distance rules have been in force in Germany since the end of March 2020, which provide for a distance of at least 1.5 meters from others. Exercise in the fresh air is still possible without problems - in Bavaria, however, only on its own or in a family.
When joggers or cyclists breathe past you in the park or in the forest, breathing hard, the question arises with some people how good protection can be with a 1.5 meter safety distance . Professor Blocken dealt with this question - with a surprising result.
Preventing coronavirus infection: Professor demands a safe distance of 20 meters from cyclists
Bert Blocken, professor of building physics and aerodynamics at the Dutch University of Technology Eindhoven, examined the behavior of the smallest microdroplets that runners and cyclists exhale. The result: Depending on how fast you run or drive, they spread over a wide area. The aerodynamics expert concluded that there is a risk of infection with the corona virus when cycling fast, even ten meters behind a cyclist in front , as the road bike magazine Tour informed. A safety distance of 20 meters is therefore recommended in his eyes.
Many scientists argue that Blocken's theory lags in practice. Juliane Pfeiffer, spokeswoman for the Society for Virology, said in the tour interview: "From a virological point of view, it must be pointed out that we currently do not know whether and how often Covid-19 is found in the air - in other words, in the smallest droplet kernels, called aerosols, from the This path of infection by inhalation cannot be ruled out, but the main route of transmission is still the droplet infection, which means that droplets form when coughing and sneezing and through the mucous membranes (nose , Mouth, eye) In addition, there are conditions in the open air - that is, when running, jogging, cycling in the fresh air - that make transmission more difficult : The (coughed up or possibly exhaled) viral load * in the air quickly increases diluted and there is usually a certain wind, which means that the tiny infectious particles quickly dwell In this respect, we consider the risk of jogging, cycling, and overtaking by bike to be manageable, provided the currently recommended social distance rules - i.e. keep a distance of at least 1.5 to 2 meters from others and no sport in groups - are observed. "
More sources: www.rki.de
Read more : surgical masks for all? Medical Director with a new assessment.
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