One of the many aspects of "normal" life that SARS-CoV-2 took away was the enjoyment of live musical performances. With the easing of lockdowns and restrictions in many parts of the world, performers can entertain audiences once again, but concerns about spreading the virus remain. Now, a research reported in ACS Environmental Au have studied aerosol (悬浮颗粒) production from playing wind instruments, singing and acting, allowing them to develop recommendations to minimize COVID transmission.
Early in the pandemic, COVID-19 outbreaks from choir performances indicated that singing carries a potential infection risk, but less is known about the risks of airborne infection from wind instruments. To help keep performers, audiences and music students safe, Tehya Stockman, Shelly Miller and colleagues wanted to examine aerosol production and flow in the air from various musical activities, as well as test different solutions.
The researchers examined the extent and speed of air circulation, or small drops of substances, coming from singers' and actors' mouths and from wind instruments, such as the flute, clarinet (单簧管), trumpet and saxophone. They also measured airborne aerosols and carbon dioxide levels exhaled from the performers. They found that aerosol concentrations coming from the bell of a clarinet were comparable to singing. Placing a surgical mask over a singer's face or over the clarinet bell sharply reduced the extent and speed of air circulation and decreased aerosol concentrations in front of the masks. The team then used these measurements to model virus transmission in indoor and outdoor environments, finding that the lowest risk of airborne COVID-19 infection occurred at less than 30 minutes of exposure indoors and less than 60 minutes outdoors. These findings could help musical rehearsals and performances continue in a safer manner for musicians and audiences, the researchers say.
