How can the nCoV virus spread in a car environment?

Sharing a car in a small space can be contagious

According to the Ministry of Health, up to 10 pm on March 14, Vietnam recorded one more case of Covid-19. The case was Ho Chi Minh City, 31 years old and carpool with patient No. 45 from Binh Thuan to Ho Chi Minh City.

Previously, patient No. 45 was a partner of patient No. 34, they had a discussion and dinner, then were infected with virus from patient No. 34. Up to now, husband, child, daughter-in-law, grandson of Patient No. 34 was also infected.

According to health experts, the ability to spread depends on three factors: the source, the amount of virus and the distance of exposure.

In these situations, Associate Professor Tran Dac Phu - Advisor of Vietnam Public Health Emergency Response Center, said that sharing a car in a confined space could completely infect Covid-19.

In the case of patient number 35, who had only close contact for only 10 minutes with the infected person then became infected with the virus. Sharing a car, especially long journeys, is at risk. Especially close distance, sitting right next to you or the upper seat with the person carrying the virus.

In Thailand in January, the country reported several people were infected with the Covid-19 virus when they were driving drivers from China, where the outbreak was circulating but did not know in advance to take precautions.

Associate Professor Phu said that SARS-CoV-2 virus was spread through droplets shot directly to people around or in the car and people close to touching such objects accidentally brought the virus into their bodies.

When an infected person coughs, sneezes, spits, the viruses attach to the surface of the car such as seats, doors, and handles. Others do not know how to handle, hold, touch and then put on the face, eyes, nose is the opportunity for the virus to enter the body whether you are sitting in the same seat, driving or passengers to get on the car after that.

Experts recommend best to cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with a tissue. Then wash your hands clean. Many drivers or passengers wearing gloves and masks when riding are also unsafe because wearing gloves but putting them on the eyes, nose, mouth is not helpful.

Most importantly, wash your hands often and do not touch the seats or the sides of the car. It is possible that people who have previously carried the virus then spread it to your vehicle without your knowledge.

For drivers such as taxi drivers, grab drivers, tourist cars, they often wipe the surface of the car with antiseptic alcohol, thoroughly cleaning nooks and crannies. Tourists should take the initiative to bring handwashing liquid to wash their hands, this is the number 1 rule.

Doctor Truong Huu Khanh - Children's Hospital 1 said that the mistakes of the patient were dangerous to the community. For example, patient No. 34 comes from an epidemic area and when he returns to Vietnam he still communicates with the community and leads to a high number of infections.

Before the number of infections from patient number 34, the doctor recommends that those who have contact with this patient need to declare a medical prompt. Because if not declared fully, honestly, may spread the source of infection to many people in the community. Currently, case 34 has been transmitted to F2, but the declaration is not correct, irresponsible, this number can reach Fn.