Transmission update

I’ve received a few interesting questions recently about transmission and thought I’d do a quick update.

EXHALED SMOKE. Smoking is clearly bad for you for a lot of reasons and the risks with this pandemic are very clear. Smokers are much more likely to contract the disease first of all because they tend to touch their mouths and face much more often. Secondly, smokers have elevated numbers of ACE-2 receptors in their lungs. These are the cell-surface receptors to which the spike protein on the surface of the coronavirus attaches. Smokers are 14x more likely to die if they are infected with Covid-19 and the disease is twice as likely to progress than in non-smokers.Long-term smokers often have other conditions like heart and lung diseases, both of which increase your chances of having poor Covid outcomes.

As far as exhaled smoke and transmission goes, there is very little actual data on transmission that I could find but it stands to reason that if you are close to someone who is deeply inhaling and forcefully exhaling, you are exposed to more of their air and are therefore more exposed to viral particles if they are infected. We certainly know that second hand, and even third hand (just the odors from clothing and furniture) increases lung and cardiovascular disease risks so Covid transmission is probably no different. We initially thought that heat kills the virus but it’s spread during these hot summer months does not seem to support that. As far as vaping is concerned, there is thermal injury to the lung and the same inhalation and exhalation practices occur so ALL the same risks apply.

SEX. Although viral particles have been identified in ALL human secretions, excretions and fluids (except apparently sweat and tears), there is no evidence of transmission through actual sexual intercourse(unless it is from “Demon Sperm” which our President apparently believes in). The kissing part is clearly a significant risk. There are a lot of details here and exemptions depending on what kinds of behaviours we are talking about and you can figure out what is probably risky and what is not on your own. If you can’t, ask your parents.

A BITE. There is no evidence of people getting Covid from human bites, assaults… If you get someone’s saliva on your hand and then touch your face, that IS a mode of transmission but there is no direct infection from open wounds of any kind.

MOSQUITOS. NO evidence of transmission.

PETS. Although pets can get infected, there is no evidence of dog or cat to human transmission. Pet your animal and wash your hands and you will be fine. I would probably limit letting your pet lick your face, especially if your pet interacts with other pets.

KIDS. There has been a lot of stuff in the news about returning to school and this is obviously a really important issue. Although kids are less likely to contract covid and as a result, less likely to transmit it, we really don’t know how much less. There is no question that kids can contract this disease and spread it. In some ways, they may transmit it more because they are more likely to be asymptomatic and we know that the 48 hours just before symptom development may be the most infectious period. In addition, because of how clingy and affectionate younger kids are and how much kids in general touch their noses and mouths, they may be greater vectors of transmission. We just don’t know. What has been less discussed is the vulnerability of the teachers, administrator, custodial staff… everyone else crucial to the education process. What is clear to me is that each school, school district and family situation is different. A family of 2 healthy parents and 2 healthy kids is a lot different than one in which someone has a chronic disease or with whom elderly parents live. The decision whether to go back or educate from home is a family decision.

Please follow the basics.

WEAR YOUR MASK. And make sure to cover your nose.
DISTANCE if you must go out.
WASH YOUR HANDS.
DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE.

Stay safe and be well.
AC 😎✌️🌱❤🐖🏃🏻🧘🏻‍♂️🌎😷