Speaking loudly in enclosed spaces creates 'substantial' risk of spreading COVID-19, study finds

Speaking in an enclosed space can create "substantial" risk of spreading the coronavirus and other respiratory diseases to others, a new study found.

The study from researchers at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the University of Pennsylvania, published Wednesday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, found that when speaking loudly, you can spit out droplets that can float in the air for at least eight minutes.

Researchers did not determine whether droplets that carry the virus are enough to infect others.

However, the results of the study suggest that wearing facial coverings may curb the amount of droplets emitted when speaking, especially in situations where it's not possible to physically distance from others.

It's widely known that COVID-19 is contagious and can be transmitted through droplets from coughing, sneezing and talking in close proximity to others.

Some experiments that use lasers of light show just how far spit can travel in the air when talking.

In one published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the results are shown on a video that highlights the difference in the amount of droplets that are generated by someone who isn't wearing a mask and someone who is.