It's 'totally unnecessary' to think 'air in Wuhan is full of virus': expert

Thinking that the air in Wuhan is full of viruses is completely unnecessary, Xu Shunqing, deputy dean of Huazhong University of Science and Technology's School of Public Health said on Sunday.

There has been no direct evidence proving that the novel coronavirus can be transmitted through aerosol, said Xu, adding that many people mistake aerosol transmission for air transmission.

Read more: Aerosol transmission of novel coronavirus yet to be confirmed: health authorities

Aerosol transmission often happens in specific environments like in small and airtight space, or in an operating room with large amount of virus, Xu explained.

Xu made the remarks during a regular briefing on prevention and control of the epidemic.

Here are other points by experts at the presser:

At present, three potential drugs have been preliminarily screened out and five more drugs have been found to inhibit the virus, said Chen Huanchun, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and agricultural expert.

In response to the reports saying pangolins could be an intermediate host for the new coronavirus, Chen said the new coronavirus may have multiple intermediary hosts.

At present, 78 percent of the world's newly emerging human infections are related to wild animals. We should raise as few wild animals as possible, let alone eat them, added Chen.

Click here for the live coverage of this press conference.