New Brunswick, N.J. (Oct. 26, 2020) – Rutgers University–New Brunswick Professor Donald W. Schaffner is available for interviews on the likelihood of getting infected by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus via surfaces, groceries, eating food and airborne/aerosol transmission.
“Current evidence still indicates that risk from surfaces remains very low. There are only a handful of documented coronavirus cases in the world linked to surfaces,” said Schaffner, an extension specialist in food science and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Food Science in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. “Handwashing and hand sanitizers remain good risk reduction practices. The current science also still indicates that risk from food or food packaging is very low. We know of no documented cases from them.”
“We do know that the primary means the virus is spread is person-to-person via droplets between individuals who spend more than 15 minutes together indoors and are closer than 6 feet apart and not wearing face coverings,” he said. “Evidence is beginning to emerge that aerosols, which are smaller than droplets and can travel more than 6 feet, may also play a role in transmission.”
Professor Schaffner is available to comment at don.schaffner@rutgers.edu
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