Can the coronavirus spread through the air?

The World Health Organization recently acknowledged the possibility that COVID-19 might be spread in the air under certain conditions. In a report published in May, researchers found that talking produced respiratory droplets that could remain in the air in a closed environment for about eight to 14 minutes. The WHO says those most at risk from airborne spread are doctors and nurses who perform specialized procedures such as inserting a breathing tube or putting patients on a ventilator.