A medical worker checks diagnosis record of a patient with his colleague in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 24, 2020. Photo:Xinhua

The novel coronavirus can spread through aerosol transmission if a person is exposed to an enclosed environment with a high concentration of aerosol for a long time, China's top health body said, revising a previous assessment that said such transmission routes were yet to be confirmed.

In the newest diagnosis and treatment plan issued by the National Health Commission (NHC) on Wednesday, it added "aerosol transmission" to "droplet respiratory particles and close contacts" as major transmission routes of the virus.

It noted that aerosol transmission of the virus is possible if one stays in an enclosed environment with a high concentration of aerosol for too long.

The NHC had previously stated in early February that routes of the novel coronavirus via aerosol and oral-fecal transmission are yet to be verified. 

The modification was made after Zeng Qun, deputy head of the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau, said at a press conference one day ago that the novel coronavirus can be transmitted via aerosol. 

Global Times