Superspreading: What we expected Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, boarding a plane sounded to many like one of the riskiest endeavors. With their confined spaces and recirculated air, planes appeared to be prime candidates for superspreading events. In preparation, many airlines implemented multifaceted prevention strategies. So how risky are flights now? Surprisingly, a number of airlines have had fairly low transmission rates between passengers. Current research connects

Why use physical barriers? We’ve all seen the controversy surrounding people’s response to the novel coronavirus. Online forums explode daily with discussions of mask mandates and school protocols. When it comes to physical barriers, such as sneeze guards, some people see no need for any prevention method at all, while others see masks as sufficient and physical barriers as an extra, unnecessary measure. To see these viewpoints in action, you need look only so far as the near

Curbing the spread of COVID-19 is a group effort, and further research on how this virus spreads suggests that applying the right engineering controls will be a group effort too. How does it spread? Medical researchers are currently investigating the role that aerosols have in spreading the new coronavirus. If the virus spreads through aerosols, then there are two important sources of spread: microscopic aerosol droplets and the larger droplets spread via talking, coughing, o

Reopening more safely Reopening schools remains a topic of heated debate and frequent Google searches. But one thing is certain: safety should always come first. Whenever schools do reopen, one safety measure recommended by the CDC is the use of physical barriers, such as plexiglass partitions. Here’s a look at how schools in Charleston County, SC, are preparing for in-person teaching this fall. (Families can also choose online instruction.) This news coverage by WCSC in Char