繼全球239名科學家發表公開信呼吁世界衛生組織重視新冠病毒空氣傳播后，日前世界衛生組織發布新指導意見稱，不排除新冠病毒在室內通過空氣微粒傳播的可能性，但還需要進一步調查來證實。

The World Health Organization published new guidance Thursday, saying it can’t rule out the possibility that the coronavirus can be transmitted through air particles in closed spaces indoors, including in gyms and restaurants.

世界衛生組織周四（7月9日）發布新指導意見稱，不能排除新冠病毒在健身館和餐廳等密閉室內空間通過空氣微粒傳播的可能性。

The WHO previously acknowledged that the virus may become airborne in certain environments, such as during “medical procedures that generate aerosols.” The new guidance recognizes some research that suggests the virus may be able to spread through particles in the air in “indoor crowded spaces.” It cited “choir practice, in restaurants or in fitness classes” as possible areas of airborne transmission.

世界衛生組織此前承認，新冠病毒可能會在特定環境中通過空氣傳播，比如在“能產生氣溶膠的醫療過程中”。新指導意見認可了一些研究發現，即病毒可能會在“室內擁擠空間”中通過空氣中的微粒傳播。意見援引了“唱詩班、餐廳或健身課”作為可能出現空氣傳播的地方。

aerosol [?er?sɑ?l]: n.氣溶膠

"In these events, short-range aerosol transmission, particularly in specific indoor locations, such as crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces over a prolonged period of time with infected persons cannot be ruled out,” the United Nations health agency’s new guidance said.

世界衛生組織的這份新指導意見稱：“在這些情況下，不能排除感染者長時間待過的特定室內場所，比如擁擠且通風不良的空間”，會出現短程的氣溶膠傳播。”

The WHO said in its guidance that while early evidence suggests the possibility of airborne transmission in such environments, spread by droplets and surfaces could also explain transmission in those cases.

世界衛生組織在指導意見中表示，盡管早期證據顯示這些環境中有可能出現空氣傳播，但飛沫和表面傳播也可以解釋這些情況。

"However, the detailed investigations of these clusters suggest that droplet and fomite transmission could also explain human-to-human transmission within these clusters,” the guidance said.

指導意見中寫道：“然而，對這些聚集性病例的詳盡調查顯示，飛沫和污染物傳播也可以解釋這些聚集性病例的人際傳播。”

fomite ['fo,ma?t]: n. 污染物

The WHO added that more research is needed to further investigate preliminary findings. The agency said the main mode of transmission is still believed to be through respiratory droplets.

世界衛生組織補充道，還需要更多研究來進一步調查這些初步發現，目前仍然認為主要傳播途徑是通過呼吸道產生的飛沫。

Airborne transmission of the coronavirus could occur if virus-carrying droplets “generate microscopic aerosols” by evaporating, the WHO said, or if “normal breathing and talking results in exhaled aerosols.” In theory, the WHO said someone could inhale the aerosols and become infected. But it remains unknown, the WHO said, if such aerosols would actually carry enough viable virus to cause infection.

世界衛生組織稱，如果攜帶病毒的飛沫通過蒸發“產生氣溶膠微粒”，新冠病毒就有可能通過空氣傳播。理論上，某人可以吸入氣溶膠從而被感染，但是這些氣溶膠實際上是否能夠攜帶足以造成感染的活性病毒仍然未知。

The WHO said it is further researching the role of different modes of spread, including by air, as well as how much virus is required to potentially infect someone and what kinds of environments create greater risk for spread.

世界衛生組織表示，正在進一步調查不同傳播途徑的作用，包括通過空氣傳播，以及需要多少病毒才可能感染一個人，還有什么樣的環境會加大傳播風險。

If airborne transmission proves to be a major factor in the spread of the virus, it could have wide-ranging policy consequences. Masks may prove to be even more important in reducing infections, especially in indoor environments and even in areas where physical distancing is possible. And more specialized masks designed to block microscopic particles may become more important. Specially outfitted ventilation units designed to kill the virus in circulating air could prove critical in preventing spread in indoor, congregate settings.

如果空氣傳播被證實是病毒傳播的一個主要因素，可能會對政策產生廣泛影響。或將證明口罩對于減少感染更加重要，尤其是在室內環境甚至在可以保持距離的地方；設計出更專業化的口罩來阻隔微粒會變得更加重要；證明專門配備的能殺死流通空氣中病毒的通風設備對于防止室內和人群聚集地的病毒傳播十分關鍵。

The new guidance comes after 239 scientists from 32 different countries published an open letter earlier this week calling for the WHO and other health authorities to update their information on the coronavirus.

在新指導意見發布前，本周早些時候來自32個國家的239名科學家發表了一封公開信，呼吁世界衛生組織和其他衛生部門更新關于新冠病毒的信息。

In an article entitled “It is Time to Address Airborne Transmission of COVID-19,” the group of scientists contend that the WHO needs to give more weight to the role of the airborne spread of Covid-19.

在一篇題為“是時候應對新冠病毒的空氣傳播了”的文章中，這個科學家團隊指出，世界衛生組織需要更重視新冠病毒通過空氣傳播的作用。

英文來源：CNBC

翻譯&編輯：丹妮