A gruesome simulation reveals the dangers of jogging during the coronavirus pandemic: viral particles from another runner can infect you even if they are two meters ahead – but it may be safer to stay after
- A new video simulation shows two scenarios: one in which two people jog side by side and one in which one jogs in succession
- The scenario of jogging one after the other caused more droplets to spread as the drops float in the air
- The simulation engineers say it might be safer to run next to or run behind someone, but in staggered formation
- Some epidemiologists say the current six-foot recommendation between people is not enough and some drops can travel 10 feet or more
- In the US, there are more than 422,000 confirmed cases of the virus and more than 14,000 deaths
A new simulation seems to indicate that current social distance guidelines are not enough to protect joggers during the coronavirus pandemic.
The video, made by a simulation technology company Ansysshows that the drip booth spreads more than two meters behind you while you walk, run or cycle.
This may make it safer to walk side by side with someone so you don’t come into direct contact with drops, engineers say.
With over 400,000 confirmed cases of the new virus and more than 13,000 deaths, health experts say increasing the distance between you and others while outdoors is one of the most important elements to flatten the curve.
A new video simulation shows two scenarios, in which two people jog side by side (top) and then one after the other
The scenario where one jogs after the other resulted in more drops spreading (above)
Researchers say it may be safer to run next to someone (left) or run behind someone, but in staggered formation (right) because drops spread directly behind an infected person
“When we see a whale or dolphin blowing through their blowhole, we can see the water and jump out of the way if necessary,” Marc Horner, chief health care engineer at Ansys, told DailyMail.com
“But when someone sneezes or coughs, it happens so quickly and the drops are so small, [the simulation gets] that mental image in your head of how far to stand so that gravity has time to pull the droplets down. ‘
Federal health officials chose six feet as a social distance guideline because of the way respiratory droplets travel.
When an infected person coughs or sneezes, droplets usually travel no more than six feet before gravity pulls them to the ground.
The video shows two scenarios: one in which two people run side by side and another in which they run behind each other.
In the side-by-side scenario, when a person coughs or sneezes, most drops travel behind the runners, not next to them.
This makes the scenario of one person jogging six feet behind another so unsafe, Horner explains.
“When someone coughs, those drops are in the air and if you walk two meters behind, you run into it and it doesn’t give them enough time to fall to the ground,” he said.
“The drops go right out and go after you, so if you’re standing next to someone – ignoring wind conditions – it won’t hit you.”
If you don’t feel safe enough to run next to someone else, run behind them in staggered formation, meaning they are not directly behind them.
Lorner says this will help prevent cough or sneeze droplets from landing directly on you.
The simulations come on the heels of recent reports that six feet is not enough to be protected from the new virus.
According to Wired.com, when large mucous droplets are ejected with extreme force (such as by sneezing instead of talking) or carried by the wind, they can travel more than six feet before falling to the ground.
Lorner explains that he and his fellow engineers exaggerated the size of the drops so people could understand how fast they could travel.
“Once you have the mental image in your head, say,” Okay, walking behind someone six or ten feet may not be enough, I need to be further back, “he said.
“People need to see why we follow social distance guidelines and get that mental picture of why helps.”
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