It has not yet been understood how the virus spreads in this manner because the obvious route of transmission is through coughing or sneezing.

A new study sheds light on one possible route of transmission, however.

According to research led by scientists at the University of California, Davis, normal speech by individuals who are asymptomatic but infected with coronavirus may produce enough aerosolised particles to transmit the infection.

The study does not communicate the extent to which the virus can be shed through this channel but it does emphasise the importance of adhering to the lockdown measures.

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