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There has been a new emphasis on aerosol transmission. I have been self-quarantining in my apartment for four months, only going to the hall, elevator, and mail boxes. I do not wear a mask because there are usually no people in these places. How likely am I to be exposed to aerosol contamination?
While there is robust scientific debate on the relative importance of smaller droplet sizes that can carry the COVID-19 virus (aka aerosol-sized droplet transmission), it is probably a low risk situation for a person that only briefly is in hallways, elevators, and retrieving mail from the mailroom. However, that is only true if the person is alone in these small areas. If another person were to suddenly arrive, and this is what is unpredictable, then there could be a real risk of transmission from respiratory droplets whether they be “large” or “small”. So, I would encourage anyone going outside their homes to wear a mask and practice hand hygiene and physical distancing.
