Can your air conditioner spread coronavirus? Experts have the answer

There is no denying the fact that we cannot do without AC in this scorching heat. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, everything is seen with suspicion. After vegetables, shoes and other surfaces, now the question is whether your AC can lead to the spread of coronavirus.

According to a recent study published in the Emerging Infectious Disease, nine people in China's Wuhan were infected with the virus simply by sitting near an air conditioning vent in a restaurant. According to the researchers, the virus was spread by one asymptomatic diner who sat at a table in front of the AC unit. Four people at the table tested positive for COVID-19 as did five other people who sat at the neighbouring tables.

A professor from the University of California said AC might be potentially risky in public settings like restaurants, workplace or gym. This has to do with the way AC works.

AC circulates air more rapidly, which removes the humidity. Water vapour can hold more heat, so with less humidity in the air, the room cools down quickly. This promotes evaporation, which causes droplets in the air to dry up and disappear. We expel these pathogens when we breathe, talk, cough and sneeze. We release about 3,000 droplets when we cough and around 30,000 droplets when we sneeze.

When the AC is turned on, the airflow from the vent pushes these droplets through the air and potentially at other people. The airflow direction matters. The indoor spaces with ventilation systems and the presence of more people can be a concern for the transmission. Experts agree that AC can definitely make the droplets containing infectious virus particles spread farther.

While the AC can make a room feel better on a hot day, but it simply recycles the existing air.

In short, no. The AC in your home is far less risky than the AC in public spaces. If you don't have many visitors at home, the only droplets that could spread by the air conditioner are those from you and whoever has been to your room. At home where we are anyway highly exposed to each other, there is no need to worry about the air conditioner.

As far as ACs in the public places is concerned, you don't completely need to refrain from going out. Just continue to practice social distancing, wear a well fitting mask and be careful about not touching anything unnecessarily. Stay at home if you feel sick.