Where are we most likely to be contaminated by Covid 19? The question divides, between the pro and the anti-containment. But a new study gives clear answers.
The World Health Organization already explained it at the start of the coronavirus epidemic: certain places are particularly vulnerable to the disease. What are they ? "Transmission is facilitated in places and situations meeting the following 3 criteria: crowded spaces, close contact, as is the case, for example, when people hold a close conversation, confined and closed spaces, poorly ventilated." The WHO also reminded that exposure time is a risk factor: "Any situation in which people are in close proximity to each other for long periods of time increases the risk of transmission."
Based on these facts, American researchers from the prestigious Stanford University wanted to refine the subject, to find out which are the closed places where we are most likely to catch the coronavirus. To do this, they analyzed population movements in ten major American cities between March and May 2020, using anonymized data from smartphones. Then, they crossed this data with the epidemic models, to analyze the first wave. Published in the journal Nature, the study shows fairly unsurprising results.
Bars, restaurants, sports halls and places of worship
A large number of contaminations are ultimately linked to frequentation of a small number of places, which are mostly closed in France while this second wave takes place. On your mind ? Bars and restaurants, where people are face to face at the table, in closed spaces, without masks, for a long time. Sports halls and places of worship are also included in this classification, for the same reasons: no or few barrier measures and a long time spent indoors. Finally, these are places where a lot of people are present at the same time, which, once again, increases the risk.
However, the study is flawed due to a lack of data: what about schools? Retirement homes? In these places, scientists have been unable to collect enough information from smartphones. Enough to revive the question of shops: with controls on the number of customers inside, a maximum duration imposed and appropriate ventilation, would it be possible to reopen some of them? Case to be continued, on a subject which divides even the medical profession.