(NYPost.com)
Two Australian doctors are weighing in about the spread of the coronavirus “down under” — whether it can be spread through farts, that is.
During Friday’s episode of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s “Coronacast,” podcast, producer and host Dr. Norman Swan made a cautionary suggestion when it comes to particles of feces set adrift within a fart and the spread of COVID-19.
“No bare-bottom farting,” Swan advised about posterior pandemic panic, in a measured, mildly amused tone.
Meanwhile, Australian emergency physician Dr. Andy Tagg also floated the question via Twitter, asking, “So, can the bottom-based emissions of someone with coronavirus be silent and deadly?”
Tagg pondered whether flatulence itself is an “aerosol-generating procedure.” (His determination: yes.) Unfortunately, as Tagg observed, there is “not a great deal of research” available to come to a firm conclusion about the perils of passing COVID-19 while passing gas.
Where does that leave us? Tagg, co-founder of the medical education site Don’t Forget the Bubbles, suggests not throwing caution to the, um, wind. He instead proposes keeping your pants on and considering them part of your personal protection equipment, just in case.
Link:https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/coronacast/no-bare-bottoms-norman-swan-weighs-in/12154256