Scientists at Amsterdam, Twente and Cambridge universities are finding more evidence about the role aerosols may play in the spread of coronavirus and are calling for better ventilation in homes, television show Nieuwsuur has reported.

More analytical models are showing that aerosols play a role although there is no rock solid proof yet, Daniel Bonn told the programme. ‘But there are a lot of things that cannot be explained quantitatively without considering the possibility of aerosols as a vehicle for contagion,’ he said.

Bonn said he was happy the World Health Organisation has now also admitted aerosols are likely to figure in the spread of coronavirus. ‘We’ve been saying this for a very long time,’ he said.

Aerosols are very small droplets produced by talking, coughing or sneezing which can remain in the air for minutes. A virus like measles depends strongly on aerosols to spread but opinion on whether this is the case for coronavirus has been divided.

Apart from model studies, practical examples, such as a Chinese restaurant where people became infected despite keeping their distance, show that aerosols do play a part, although how big a part is as yet unclear.

Aerosolen, piepkleine deeltjes in de lucht, spelen een rol bij de besmetting tijdens deze pandemie. Dat blijkt uit onderzoek van een groep wetenschappers. Ook de WHO erkent nu die rol. Het advies: “Ventileren, ventileren, ventileren.” #Nieuwsuur pic.twitter.com/3v0FgqFjiE

— Nieuwsuur (@Nieuwsuur) May 3, 2021

More research needs to be done into the proper ventilation in for instance, schools, fitness clubs, restaurants and airplanes, Bonn said.

The public health institute RIVM has not yet commented on the research.