Tue, Apr 29, 2025
[Archive]
.png)
Volume 9, Issue 3 (9-2023)
jhehp 2023, 9(3): 113-120 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Neisi A, Farhadi M, Talepour N. The Impact of Physical Distance on COVID-19 Transmission: A Comprehensive Review of Evidence and Implications. jhehp 2023; 9 (3) :113-120
URL: http://jhehp.zums.ac.ir/article-1-600-en.html
URL: http://jhehp.zums.ac.ir/article-1-600-en.html
1- Air Pollution and Respiratory Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
2- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
2- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Abstract: (1006 Views)
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a member of the Corona‑viridian family, is responsible for the emergence of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which has developed into a worldwide pandemic since its initial detection in Wuhan, Hubei province of China, in early December 2019. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of physical distancing measures on the transmission of COVID-19. A scoping review was conducted, with a focus on English-language literature available on Pub Med and Web of Science up to May 2022. The findings of this study indicate a statistically significant correlation between physical distance and the transmission of COVID-19. Nevertheless, it should be noted that COVID-19 primarily spreads through contact routes and respiratory droplets, and many aspects of its transmissibility are still not fully understood. As such, the topic of airborne transmission of COVID-19 remains a subject of debate and controversy.
Type of Study: Review Article |
Subject:
Environmental Health, Sciences, and Engineering
Received: 2023/06/24 | Accepted: 2023/08/10 | Published: 2023/09/11
Received: 2023/06/24 | Accepted: 2023/08/10 | Published: 2023/09/11
References
1. Bao L, Deng W, Huang B, Gao H, Liu J, Ren L, et al. The Pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 in hACE2 Transgenic Mice. Nat. 2020; 583(7818): 830-3. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
2. Shereen MA, Khan S, Kazmi A, Bashir N, Siddique R. COVID-19 Infection: Origin, Transmission, and Characteristics of Human Coronaviruses. J Adv Res. 2020; 24: 91-8. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
3. Jin Y, Yang H, Ji W, Wu W, Chen S, Zhang W, et al. Virology, Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Control of COVID-19. Viruses. 2020; 12(4): 372. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
4. Roosa K, Lee Y, Luo R, Kirpich A, Rothenberg R, Hyman J, et al. Real-Time Forecasts of the COVID-19 Epidemic in China from February 5th to February 24th, 2020. Infect Dis Model. 2020; 5: 256-63. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
5. Zareh Gavgani V. Infodemic in the Global Coronavirus Crisis. Depiction Health. 2020; 11(1): 1-5. [Article] [Crossref]
6. Dalton C, Corbett S, Katelaris A. Pre-emptive Low Cost Social Distancing and Enhanced Hygiene Implemented Before Local COVID-19 Transmission Could Decrease the Number and Severity of Cases. Med J Aust. 2020; 212(10): 1. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
7. Ross SE, Niebling BC, Heckert TM. Sources of Stress Among College Students. Coll Stud J. 1999; 33(2): 312. [Google Scholar]
8. Pfattheicher S, Nockur L, Böhm R, Sassenrath C, Petersen MB. The Emotional Path to Action: Empathy Promotes Physical Distancing and Wearing of Face Masks During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Psychol Sci. 2020; 31(11): 1363-73. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
9. Xiao C. A Novel Approach of Consultation on 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)-Related Psychological and Mental Problems: Structured Letter Therapy. Psychiatry Investig. 2020; 17(2): 175. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
10. Sun C, Zhai Z. The Efficacy of Social Distance and Ventilation Effectiveness in Preventing COVID-19 Transmission. Sustain Cities Soc. 2020; 62: 102390. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
11. Arksey H, O'Malley L. Scoping Studies: Towards a Methodological Framework. Int J Soc Res Methodol. 2005; 8(1): 19-32. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
12. Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, et al. The PRISMA 2020 Statement: An Updated Guideline for Reporting Systematic Reviews. Int J Surg. 2021; 88: 105906. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
13. Amrithaa B, Rani SL, Geetha RV. Preventive Measures Against Covid in Public Places. Int J Curr Res Rev. 2020; 79-85. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
14. Shao S, Zhou D, He R, Li J, Zou S, Mallery K, et al. Risk Assessment of Airborne Transmission of COVID-19 by Asymptomatic Individuals Under Different Practical Settings. J Aerosol Sci. 2021; 151: 105661. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
15. Nicas M, Nazaroff WW, Hubbard A. Toward Understanding the Risk of Secondary Airborne Infection: Emission of Respirable Pathogens. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2005; 2(3): 143-54. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
16. Wallace JM, Hobbs PV. Atmospheric Science: An Introductory Survey. Elsevier. 2006. [Google Scholar]
17. Marr LC, Tang JW, Van Mullekom J, Lakdawala SS. Mechanistic Insights into the Effect of Humidity on Airborne Influenza Virus Survival, Transmission and Incidence. J R Soc Interface. 2019; 16(150): 20180298. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
18. Crema E. Not Even the Air of Empty Spaces is Coronavirus Free (Two Meters is Not a Safe Distance). Arxiv Preprint Arxiv: 200608823. 2020. [Google Scholar]
19. Bourouiba L. Turbulent Gas Clouds and Respiratory Pathogen Emissions: Potential Implications for Reducing Transmission of COVID-19. Jama. 2020; 323(18): 1837-8. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
20. Scharfman B, Techet A, Bush J, Bourouiba L. Visualization of Sneeze Ejecta: Steps of Fluid Fragmentation Leading to Respiratory Droplets. Exp Fluids. 2016; 57(2): 1-9. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
21. Bourouiba L, Dehandschoewercker E, Bush JW. Violent Expiratory Events: On Coughing and Sneezing. J Fluid Mech. 2014; 745: 537-63. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
23. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Travelers from Countries with Widespread Sustained (Ongoing) Transmission Arriving in the United States. 2020. Available from: https://www. cdc. gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/after-travel-precautions. html.
24. Olsen SJ, Chang HL, Cheung TY, Tang AF, Fisk TL, Ooi SP, et al. Transmission of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome on Aircraft. N Engl J Med. 2003; 349(25): 2416-22. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
25. Wong TW, Lee CK, Tam W, Lau JT, Yu TS, Lui SF, et al. Cluster of SARS among Medical Students Exposed to Single Patient, Hong Kong. Emerg Infect Dis. 2004; 10(2): 269. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
26. Loeb M, McGeer A, Henry B, Ofner M, Rose D, Hlywka T, et al. SARS among Critical Care Nurses, Toronto. Emerg Infect Dis. 2004; 10(2): 251. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
27. Teleman MD, Boudville I, Heng B, Zhu D, Leo Y. Factors Associated with Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome among Health-Care Workers in Singapore. Epidemiol Infect. 2004; 132(5): 797-803. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
28. Yu IT, Wong TW, Chiu YL, Lee N, Li Y. Temporal-spatial Analysis of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome among Hospital Inpatients. Clin Infect Dis. 2005; 40(9): 1237-43. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
29. Reynolds MG, Anh BH, Thu VH, Montgomery JM, Bausch DG, Shah JJ, et al. Factors Associated with Nosocomial SARS-CoV Transmission among Healthcare Workers in Hanoi, Vietnam, 2003. BMC Public Health. 2006; 6(1): 1-9. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
30. Rea E, Lafleche J, Stalker S, Guarda B, Shapiro H, Johnson I, et al. Duration and Distance of Exposure are Important Predictors of Transmission among Community Contacts of Ontario SARS Cases. Epidemiol Infect. 2007; 135(6): 914-21. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
31. Chen WQ, Ling WH, Lu CY, Hao YT, Lin ZN, Ling L, et al. Which Preventive Measures Might Protect Health Care Workers from SARS?. BMC Public Health. 2009; 9: 1-8. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
32. Wiboonchutikul S, Manosuthi W, Likanonsakul S, Sangsajja C, Kongsanan P, Nitiyanontakij R, et al. Lack of Transmission among Healthcare Workers in Contact with a Case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection in Thailand. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2016; 5(1): 1-5. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
33. Park JY, Kim BJ, Chung KH, Hwang YI. Factors Associated with Transmission of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome among Korean Healthcare Workers: Infection Control Via Extended Healthcare Contact Management in a Secondary Outbreak Hospital. Respirol. 2016; 21(suppl 3): 89. [Article]
34. Ki HK, Han SK, Son JS, Park SO. Risk of Transmission Via Medical Employees and Importance of Routine Infection-Prevention Policy in a Nosocomial Outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS): A Descriptive Analysis from a Tertiary Care Hospital in South Korea. BMC Pulm Med. 2019; 19(1): 1-12. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
35. Arefi MF, Poursadeqiyan M. A Review of Studies on the Epidemic Crisis of COVID-19 Disease with a Preventive Approach. Work. 2020; 66(4): 717-29. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
36. Cheng HY, Jian SW, Liu DP, Ng TC, Huang WT, Lin HH. High Transmissibility of COVID-19 Near Symptom Onset. MedRxiv. 2020; 2020-03. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
37. Heinzerling A, Stuckey MJ, Scheuer T, Xu K, Perkins KM, Resseger H, et al. Transmission of COVID-19 to Health Care Personnel During Exposures to a Hospitalized Patient-Solano County, California, February 2020. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020; 69(15): 472. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
38. Burke RM, Balter S, Barnes E, Barry V, Bartlett K, Beer KD, et al. Enhanced Contact Investigations for Nine Early Travel-Related Cases of SARS-CoV-2 in the United States. PloS One. 2020; 15(9): e0238342. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
39. Liu Z, Ye Y, Zhang H, Guohong X, Yang J, Wang J. Analysis of the Spatio-Temporal Characteristics and Transmission Path of COVID-19 Cluster Cases in Zhuhai. Trop Geogr. 2020. [PubMed]
40. Balachandar S, Zaleski S, Soldati A, Ahmadi G, Bourouiba L. Host-to-host Airborne Transmission as a Multiphase Flow Problem for Science-Based Social Distance Guidelines. Elsevier. 2020; 132: 103439. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
41. Jones NR, Qureshi ZU, Temple RJ, Larwood JP, Greenhalgh T, Bourouiba L. Two Metres or One: What is the Evidence for Physical Distancing in Covid-19?. BMJ. 2020; 370. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
42. Hwang SE, Chang JH, Oh B, Heo J. Possible Aerosol Transmission of COVID-19 Associated with an Outbreak in an Apartment in Seoul, South Korea, 2020. Int J Infect Dis. 2021; 104: 73-6. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
43. Zhao T, Cheng C, Liu H, Sun C. Is One-Or Two-Meters Social Distancing Enough for COVID-19? Evidence for Reassessing. Public Health. 2020; 185: 87. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
44. Tabatabaeizadeh SA. Airborne Transmission of COVID-19 and the Role of Face Mask to Prevent It: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Eur J Biomed Res. 2021; 26(1): 1-6. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
45. Mahase E. Covid-19: Physical Distancing of at Least One Metre is Linked to Large Reduction in Infection. BMJ Br Med J. 2020; 369. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
46. Van Den Berg P, Schechter-Perkins EM, Jack RS, Epshtein I, Nelson R, Oster E, et al. Effectiveness of 3 Versus 6 Ft of Physical Distancing for Controlling Spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 among Primary and Secondary Students and Staff: A Retrospective, Statewide Cohort Study. Clin Infect Dis. 2021; 73(10): 1871-8. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
47. Dewi TK, Savitri DA, Sudirman MA, Rohmatullaili RA, Rahmadianti S, Ardi R. Survey Data of Determinants Related to Covid-19 Preventive Behaviors During the Second Waves in Indonesia Using the Reasoned Action Approach. Data Brief. 2022; 42: 108147. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
48. Bartolucci A, Templeton A, Bernardini G. How Distant? An Experimental Analysis of Students’ COVID-19 Exposure and Physical Distancing in University Buildings. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2022; 70: 102752. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
49. Morawska L, Cao J. Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: The World Should Face the Reality. Environ Int. 2020; 139: 105730. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
50. Organization WH. Infection Prevention and Control of Epidemic-and Pandemic-prone Acute Respiratory Infections in Health Care. WHO. 2014. [Google Scholar]
51. Xie X, Li Y, Chwang A, Ho P, Seto W. How far Droplets Can Move in Indoor Environments-revisiting the Wells Evaporation-falling Curve. Indoor Air. 2007; 17(3): 211-25. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
52. Xia J, Yin K, Yue Y, Li Q, Wang X, Hu D, et al. Impact of Human Mobility on COVID-19 Transmission According to Mobility Distance, Location, and Demographic Factors in the Greater Bay Area of China: Population-Based Study. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2023; 9(1): e39588. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
53. Feng Y, Marchal T, Sperry T, Yi H. Influence of Wind and Relative Humidity on the Social Distancing Effectiveness to Prevent COVID-19 Airborne Transmission: A Numerical Study. J Aerosol Sci. 2020; 147: 105585. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
54. Widyawardani TN, Pamungkasari EP, Murti B. The Effectiveness of Wearing Mask and Physical Distancing in Preventing the COVID-19 Transmission. J Epidemiol Public Health. 2022; 7(3): 355-66. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
55. Zhang Z, Xue T, Jin X. Effects of Meteorological Conditions and Air Pollution on COVID-19 Transmission: Evidence from 219 Chinese Cities. Sci Total Environ. 2020; 741: 140244. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
56. Chu D, Akl E, El-Harakeh A, Bognanni A, Lotfi T, Loeb M, et al. Physical Distancing, Face Masks, and Eye Protection to Prevent Person-Person COVID-19 Transmission: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Preprint). 2020. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
57. Chea B, Bolt A, Agelin-Chaab M, Dincer I. Assessment of Effectiveness of Optimum Physical Distancing Phenomena for COVID-19. Phys Fluids. 2021; 33(5). [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
58. Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Perrone MG, Borelli M, et al. Airborne Transmission Route of COVID-19: Why 2 Meters/6 Feet of Inter-Personal Distance Could not be Enough. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(8): 2932. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
59. Tanis CC, Leach NM, Geiger SJ, Nauta FH, Dablander F, Van Harreveld F, et al. Smart Distance Lab’s Art Fair, Experimental Data on Social Distancing During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sci Data. 2021; 8(1): 179. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
60. Praharaj S, Han H. A Longitudinal Study of the Impact of Human Mobility on the Incidence of COVID-19 in India. MedRxiv. 2020; 2020-12. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
61. Shafaghi AH, Rokhsar Talabazar F, Koar A, Ghorbani M. On the Effect of the Respiratory Droplet Generation Condition on COVID-19 Transmission. Fluids. 2020; 5(3): 113. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
62. Hu M, Lin H, Wang J, Xu C, Tatem AJ, Meng B, et al. Risk of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Transmission in Train Passengers: An Epidemiological and Modeling Study. Clin Infect Dis. 2021; 72(4): 604-10. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
63. Kowalsky JM, Mitchell AM, Okdie BM. Maintaining Distance and Avoiding Going out During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Examination of an Integrated Social Cognition Model. Psychol Health. 2021: 1-22. [Crossref] [PubMed]
64. Zeng C, Zhang J, Li Z, Sun X, Olatosi B, Weissman S, et al. Spatial-temporal Relationship between Population Mobility and COVID-19 Outbreaks in South Carolina: Time Series Forecasting Analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2021; 23(4): e27045. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
65. Mahase E. Covid-19: Physical Distancing of at Least one Metre is Linked to Large Reduction in Infection. 2020. [Crossref] [Google Scholar]
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
© 2024 The Author(s)
