Infectious SARS-CoV-2 is emitted in aerosols

Hawks, Seth A.; Prussin, Aaron J.; Kuchinsky, Sarah C.; Pan, Jin; Marr, Linsey C.; Duggal, Nisha K.

Respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 are transmitted in respiratory droplets and aerosols, which are released during talking, breathing, coughing, and sneezing. Non-contact transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has been demonstrated, suggesting transmission in aerosols. Here we demonstrate that golden Syrian hamsters emit infectious SARS-CoV-2 in aerosols, prior to and concurrent with the onset of mild clinical signs of disease. The average emission rate is 25 infectious virions/hour on days 1 and 2 post-inoculation, with average viral RNA levels 200-fold higher than infectious virus in aerosols. Female hamsters have delayed kinetics of viral shedding in aerosols compared to male hamsters, with peak viral emission for females on dpi 2 and for males on dpi 1. The majority of virus is contained within aerosols <8 µm in size. Thus, we provide direct evidence that, in hamsters, SARS-CoV-2 is an airborne virus.