Epidemiologic Evidence for Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during Church Singing, Australia, 2020

• DOI: 10.3201/eid2706.210465
• Publication Date: 2021-04-05T14:42:01Z
• Authors: Anthea L. Katelaris; Jessica Wells; Penelope Clark; Sophie Norton; Rebecca Rockett; Alicia Arnott; Vitali Sintchenko; Stephen Corbett; Shopna K. Bag
• Keywords: Coronavirus; 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak; Contact tracing

Abstract An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection occurred among church attendees after an infectious chorister sang at multiple services. We detected 12 secondary case-patients. Video recordings the services showed that case-patients were seated in same section, up to 15 m from primary case-patient, without close physical contact, suggesting airborne transmission.