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UPDATE: CDC reverses itself and says guidelines it posted on coronavirus airborne transmission were wrong

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Mon, 2020-09-21 13:02 — mike kraft
The CDC says coronavirus is airborne and spread by aerosols, warns of badly ventilated spaces “There is growing evidence that droplets and airborne particles can remain suspended in the air and be breathed in by others, and travel distances beyond 6 feet (for example, during choir practice, in restaurants, or in fitness classes),” the agency says. “In general, indoor environments without good ventilation increase this risk.” Tim Elfrink Washington Post

The agency had posted new guidelines suggesting the virus can transmit over a distance larger than six feet and that indoor ventilation is key to protection against its spread. This is a point that many independent experts have also been advancing, and it had appeared that the agency had come around to their point of view.

But the guidelines were removed late this morning because “that does not reflect our current state of knowledge,” a top CDC official said.

This is a developing story and will be updated

Editor's note: The description in the box from the Washington Post reflects its earlier link, which has not yet been updated. Also see:

WHO says no change to COVID-19 transmission guidance after U.S. draft change

WHO says no change to COVID-19 transmission guidance after U.S. draft change The World Health Organization has not changed its policy on aerosol transmission of the coronavirus, it said on Monday after U.S. health officials published draft new guidance by mistake warning that it can spread through airborne particles. Reuters Staff U.S.

GENEVA/LONDON (Reuters) - The World Health Organization has not changed its policy on aerosol transmission of the coronavirus, it said on Monday after U.S. health officials published draft new guidance by mistake warning that it can spread through airborne particles.

Mike Ryan, executive director of the UN agency’s emergencies programme, said he would follow up with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the next 24 hours after it said COVID-19 could spread through airborne particles that can remain suspended in the air and travel beyond six feet.

“Certainly we haven’t seen any new evidence and our position on this remains the same,” he said in a briefing.

The CDC said a draft version of changes to its recommendations were posted in error on its website while it was in the process of updating its guidance. ...

 

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Mon, 2020-09-21 13:39 — mike kraft

The CDC says coronavirus is airborne and spread by aerosols, warns of badly ventilated spaces “There is growing evidence that droplets and airborne particles can remain suspended in the air and be breathed in by others, and travel distances beyond 6 feet (for example, during choir practice, in restaurants, or in fitness classes),” the agency says. “In general, indoor environments without good ventilation increase this risk.” Tim Elfrink Washington Post

....Jay Butler, the CDC’s deputy director for infectious disease, said the Friday update was posted in error. “Unfortunately an early draft of a revision went up without any technical review,” he said.

The edited web page has removed all references to airborne spread, except for a disclaimer that recommendations based on this mode of transmission are under review. “We are returning to the earlier version and revisiting that process," Butler said. "It was a failure of process at CDC.” ...

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