"실내 2ｍ거리두기 불충분할수도…6.5ｍ거리서 5분 머물고 감염"<br /><br />So far, keeping two meters, or roughly six feet apart from one another has been commonly seen as effective in lowering our risk of getting infected with the coronavirus.<br />But a recent study by a team of South Korean researchers suggests more precaution may be needed as the virus could travel further under certain circumstances.<br />Kim Sung-min reports.<br />Keeping a two meter distance.<br />Many people assume this is far enough to stay safe from COVID-19...<br />but a recent study suggests the virus can be transmitted over distances of more than 6 meters.<br />South Korea's Jeonbuk National University studied a specific case of infection that occurred in Jeonju back in June.<br />After going through an epidemiological investigation, it turned out that person A caught COVID-19 from person B,...who was sitting six-point-five meters away.<br />This was after person A stayed only for five minutes at the same place as person B.<br />Person C who was staying further away than two meters from B also later tested positive.<br />What carried the virus over a long distance was the air-conditioning system.<br />The restaurant had only two entrances, and no windows to ventilate the air.<br />"For this particular case, the air circulated from the original infected person towards the others who caught the virus, so with this special condition, transmission occurred even over a long distance."<br />In fact, some people who were sitting closer to person B were not infected,...showing that the direction of air circulation becomes an important factor in deciding the possibility of infection.<br />Following this case study, the research team suggests that the epidemiological tests should be taken over a wider area,...especially if heaters or air conditioning are in use.<br />Also, to minimize the chance of transmission, people should ventilate the room frequently and put partitions between tables.<br />Kim Sung-min, Arirang News<br />
