SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 – Recently published studies by UTSA show that outdoor spaces may not be as originally designed to protect against the coronavirus. The study was led by Kiran Bhaganagar, an associate professor of mechanical engineering. To expand on his findings, Bhaganagar used knowledge held at a COVID-19 hotspot in the United States: New York City.
According to Bhaganagar, this is the first study to measure the spread of the coronavirus in outdoor situations. There is sufficient evidence that aerosols spread the virus indoors. To conduct his research, Bhaganagar was given detailed weather fields to create highly accurate models that show most of the time. The virus likely spread in weather situations in New York City from March to April 2020.
Using computer models, he created a real-time, high-fidelity simulation of a viral cough released into the environment through an inflamed user. When the user coughs or sneezes, respiratory droplets containing infectious waste are released into the air. The simulations revealed that the combination of certain climatic conditions favors the spread of the virus.
Bhaganagar found that windy conditions did not help spread coronavirus droplets; In fact, those weather situations resulted in faster dispersion of aerosol droplets.
Instead, tests have shown that the combination of warmer or cooler air temperatures, with low wind speeds and low turbulence, increases the time the virus can be in the air before dispersing into the air (up to 30 minutes in many cases). Under these conditions, Bhaganagar found that remnants of coronavirus aerosols can extend from 1 to 2 kilometers, or just over a mile.
Simulating viral spread
Depending on the time of day and wind direction, the direction of propagation will be toward Massachusetts, New Jersey or southern New York.
Based on accumulated data from Bhaganagar, he said outdoor situations most likely also contributed to the spread of the coronavirus similar to a wildfire in the New York metropolitan domain in the spring of 2020.
“These paints are further evidence that air cannot dilute virus particles, and there is strong evidence that the area spread between states is linked to airborne transmission,” Bhaganagar said.
Based on the extent to which coronavirus aerosol can spread outdoors, Bhaganagar says his study suggests that outdoors, 6 feet may not be enough social distance to protect against the virus. He added that wearing masks and other means of protection against viruses in outdoor spaces there are additional precautions to avoid contracting COVID-19.
Bhaganagar’s full study was published in Environmental Research, Science Direct on Sept. 17. Student Sudheer Bhimireddy contributed to the project.
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