Coronavirus at beaches? Surfers, swimmers should stay away, scientist says

[diva77]

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-02/coronavirus-ocean-swimming-surfing-safe-beaches-los-angeles?

By Rosanna Xia Staff Writer
April 2, 2020
7 AM
UPDATED 7:18 AM

Kim Prather, a leading atmospheric chemist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, wants to yell out her window at every surfer, runner, and biker she spots along the San Diego coast.

“I wouldn’t go in the water if you paid me $1 million right now,” she said.

The beach, in her estimation, is one of the most dangerous places to be these days, as the novel coronavirus marches silently across California.

Many beachgoers know they can suffer skin rashes, stomach illness and serious ear and respiratory infections if they go into the water within three days of a heavy rain, because of bacteria and pathogens washing off roads and into the ocean. Raw or poorly treated sewage entering the ocean also poses major health risks.

Prather fears that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, could enter coastal waters in similar ways and transfer back into the air along the coast.

In her research, Prather has found that the ocean churns up all kinds of particulate and microscopic pathogens, and every time the ocean sneezes with a big wave or two, it sprays these particles into the air. She believes that this new coronavirus is light enough to float through the air much farther than we think. The six-feet physical distancing rule, she said, doesn’t apply at the beach, where coastal winds can get quite strong and send viral particles soaring.

“It’s not going to kill you if you miss a few surfing sessions, but it could if you go out there and get in the wrong air,” she said.
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[SWBTATTReg]

1. Wow, did not think of this possibility, but it does make sense. Wonder if anyone on the beach ...

will listen to her advice. I kind of doubt it, especially after seeing the idiots on Spring Break.

[denbot]

2. Rutt-Ro Rorge..

Last edited Sat Apr 4, 2020, 06:26 PM - Edit history (1)

A surfer in my town was fined $1,000 last week
for telling a cop “I’m gonna surf what are you going to do about it”!
We figured since we compete for waves, and there are unwritten, and fiercely enforced group protocols as to whose wave it is, we are the ultimate outdoor social distancers.

Live and learn..

[diva77]

3. Sounds like the cop did that surfer and potential people he could infect a favor.

[denbot]

4. Yup

File it under “Who woulda thunk it!”.