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?:abstract
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COVID-19 disease is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which originated in Wuhan, China and spread with an astonishing rate across the world The transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2 are still debated, but recent evidence strongly suggests that COVID-19 could be transmitted via air in poorly ventilated places Some studies also suggest the higher surface stability of SARS-CoV-2 as compared to SARS-CoV-1 It is also possible that small viral particles may enter into indoor environments from the various emission sources aided by environmental factors such as relative humidity, wind speed, temperature, thus representing a type of an aerosol transmission Here, we explore the role of relative humidity in airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus in indoor environments based on recent studies around the world Humidity affects both the evaporation kinematics and particle growth In dry indoor places i e , less humidity ( 40% RH), the chances of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 are higher than that of humid places (i e , 90% RH) Based on earlier studies, a relative humidity of 40–60% was found to be optimal for human health in indoor places Thus, it is extremely important to set a minimum relative humidity standard for indoor environments such as hospitals, offices and public transports for minimization of airborne spread of SARS-CoV-2 © The Author(s)
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