Do gaj se zyada zaruri: What top scientific officer advises to crush Covid-19

The Covid-19 safety protocol has been tweaked in the latest advisory by the office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India. It now says SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, can be airborne for up to 10 metres.

Wearing a face mask, following hand hygiene, and keeping a two-metre social distance have been part of the standard Covid-19 safety protocol popularised by a government advertisement saying “do gaj doori, mask hai zaroori”. The Covid-19 safety protocol has been tweaked in the latest advisory by the office of Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India. It now says SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, can be airborne for up to 10 metres. This is almost 33 feet. Earlier, a six-foot distance was thought to be enough to prevent SARS-CoV-2 from infecting a healthy person in contact with an infected one — obviously when both are not protected by a mask.