Japan disease institute says that aerosol transmission could lead to COVID infection

Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) announced on its website on March 28 that the coronavirus can be transmitted through inhalation of aerosols floating in the air containing the virus. The NIID had previously published a report that said aerosol infection was not possible and listed only droplet and contact transmission as infection routes. Domestic scientists then submitted an open letter of inquiry demanding an explanation, saying that the report was different from other findings around the world. In spring 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that aerosol and droplet infections were the main routes of infection, and that contact infection was unlikely to occur. However, in its report on the omicron variant released on Jan. 13 this year, the NIID gave a different explanation from the WHO and other organizations, stating, “at present we have not been able to confirm a...