Speaking too loudly could help spread the coronavirus, according to the latest research. Droplet spray from the mouths of loud talkers can remain in the air far longer than expected.
The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, come after scientists used laser lights to study how oral spray travels.
They studied the spatter from someone who repeated the words “stay healthy” at volume for 25 seconds. The location was then filmed for 80 minutes, to analyse how many particles remained in the air.
They found the droplets can stay in the air for between eight and 14 minutes before disappearing. The researchers estimate that a single minute of speaking loudly generates at least 1,000 virus-containing droplets.