The Ministry of Health pointed out that the COVID-19 virus particles or droplets will be produced when the infected car passenger breathes, talks, coughs, or sneezes. Those COVID-19 virus particles or droplets will circulate in the air for up to an hour! 

In this regard, the Ministry of Health shared on Facebook the precautions that people can take to reduce the risk of infection when sharing cars with others. Those steps are the results of Swansea University's research.

1. Wear a face mask

Don’t share a car with someone you don’t know. If it is unavoidable, it is best to wear a mask as it can reduce the spread of virus particles by 90%, and that the intake of the virus by passengers was reduced by 70%. 

2. Keep distance

Keep your distance from other passengers and sit as far away as possible from other passengers. Sitting in the front seat has a lower risk of infection because the air flows from the front to the back. The virus particles will be accumulated in the back of the car. If the passenger is forced to sit in the back row, please choose the seat opposite the window.

3. Wash your hands frequently

Wash your hands before and after getting in the car. If it is your car, disinfect the surfaces touched by passengers, such as door handles and seat belts.

4. Open the window

Studies have shown that opening the window for 10 seconds at regular intervals can reduce the accumulation of virus particles by 97%. There will be a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the car after the car windows are opened and the particles in the car will be sucked out.

5. Driving speed

Slow driving (less than 30 km/hour) leads to a higher chance for the virus particles to gather. It is best to open all car windows, but this may encounter pollution from the outside. 

Contrarily, if the driving speed is faster, you do not need to open all the windows. Just open two opposing windows occasionally (Eg. the driver’s seat window and the rear left passenger seat window) every 10-15 minutes or when any passenger sneezes or coughs.

6. Vaccination

In addition to the above methods, if you or other passengers have been vaccinated, the risk of infection will be lower.

Protect yourself, protect your family. Check out the long COVID, aka the effects after recovering from COVID-19.