Speaking Can Transmit Coronavirus Due to Tiny Droplets of Saliva, NIH Study Suggests

Early results of a study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggest that coronavirus can be transmitted through the air from tiny saliva droplets that are expelled when people speak.

Although the research is yet to be published or peer reviewed, the preliminary findings could have major implications in developing strategies for halting the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Monday letter from the study's authors.

"Further studies are needed to assess the viral titer [concentrations] present in speech-induced droplets in asymptomatic COVID-19 positive persons, but our results suggest that speaking can indeed be a major mode of SARS-CoV-2 transmission," wrote the researchers.

"Droplets emitted while speaking are much smaller than those emitted when coughing or sneezing," the researchers wrote. "Nonetheless they are sufficiently large to carry a variety of respiratory pathogens, including the measles virus, influenza virus, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Moreover, multiple studies have shown that speaking actually produces significantly more droplets than coughing." Read More

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Scientists Question if 6ft Social Distancing Is Enough to Stop Coronavirus Spread, as Coughs Appear to Spread Saliva 19ft

Both studies appear to support the importance of wearing a face mask as a precautionary measure, not just to protect the wearer from infection but more importantly to prevent the wearer from infecting others if they are COVID-19 positive. This basis for wearing a face mask is completely lost on those who argue that wearing a face mask should be a matter of personal choice or maintain that wearing one is a sign of weakness or an indicator of fearfulness. In urging people to wear face masks, it should be drawn to their attention that in wearing one, they are showing that they are socially responsible citizens who take protecting the health and well-being of their community with the seriousness that they deserve. They should consider wearing a face mask a badge of honor and not a mark of disgrace as COVID-19 deniers would make it.