Was criticized for basing SMC Sanitization on premise that COVID-19 could be airborne: Mattu

Srinagar, Jul 7 : Asserting that he was criticized for basing SMC sanitization protocols on premise that COVID-19 could be airborne four months ago, former Srinagar Major Junaid Azim Mattu on Tuesday said today hundreds of scientists are asking World Health Organization (WHO) to revise recommendations following evidence that Coronavirus in smaller particles in the air can infect people.
“I’m so glad I took the call to err on the side of caution 4 months ago,” Mr Mattu added.
“4 months ago I asked SMC to err on the side of caution and base our Sanitization protocols on the premise that #COVID19 “could be” airborne. I was mocked, abused and rebuked. Today, 4 months later - @WHO and more than 200 acclaimed scientists are urging new guidance,” the former Srinagar Mayor wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.
Mr Mattu asked where are the critics who were out with daggers claiming he had taken a bad call by basing SMC’s COVID-19 sanitization protocols on this possible premise. “Not one to say “I told you so” but I’m SO glad I took the call to err on the side of caution 4 months ago,” he added.
The WHO has said the coronavirus disease spreads primarily from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, which are expelled when a person with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes or speaks.
In an open letter to the agency, which the researchers plan to publish in a scientific journal next week, 239 scientists in 32 countries outlined the evidence showing smaller particles can infect people, the New York Times reported on Saturday.
Whether carried by large droplets that zoom through the air after a sneeze, or by much smaller exhaled droplets that may glide the length of a room, the coronavirus is borne through air and can infect people when inhaled, the scientists said, according to the NYT.
However, according to NYT, WHO said the evidence for the virus being airborne was not convincing.