Commentary: Low risk of getting COVID-19 from indoor places – even with masks off

DANGER OF COVID-19 EXPOSURE INDOORS

The risk of being exposed to COVID-19 in an indoor setting is highly dependent on several factors, which include air flow, population density, length of stay plus type of activities involved.

Indoor configurations with a higher proportion of fresh air influx to used air outflow, and increased flow rate straight into and out of the indoor setting, respectively, are already shown to lower the risk of exposure indoors.

In addition , a lower density of people over a particular period of time and smaller duration of remain (less than fifteen minutes) within an indoor setting significantly reduces the risk of exposure.

On the contrary, indoor settings where people communicate vocally, such as by means of speaking, singing or cheering can raise the risk getting the pathogen.

With environmentally friendly setting-specific herd defenses achieved due to the higher population of vaccinees along with boosters (79 per cent as of Aug 22), the chance of COVID-19 transmission within indoor settings continues to be significantly reduced.

Accordingly, the likelihood of a susceptible individual (who has not been infected or even vaccinated) being exposed inside is also reduced.

With highly available and available verification tools, such as antigen rapid test products, as well as high compliance with voluntary examining and self-isolation upon testing positive amongst our community, the likelihood of a susceptible person being exposed indoors will be even smaller.