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The human eye is ‘susceptible’ to coronavirus infection, new study warns

May 11, 2020 / By Chris Ciaccia | Fox News

Researchers widely believe that COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus pandemic, is transmitted person-to-person, largely via respiratory droplets from coughs, sneezes and talking. A new study suggests it can also be transmitted through the eyes from the ACE-2 protein.

The study, which has not been peer-reviewed and is posted on the bioxriv repository, notes that oculuar cells, including conjunctiva, “are susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2.”

“…[T]hese results indicate that ocular surface cells including conjunctiva are susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2, and could therefore serve as a portal of entry as well as a reservoir for person-to-person transmission of this virus,” the researchers from Johns Hopkins University and Yat-Sen University in China wrote in the study. “This highlights the importance of safety practices including face masks and ocular contact precautions in preventing the spread of COVID-19 disease.”

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Josh Sandberg

Josh Sandberg is the President and CEO of Ortho Spine Partners and sits on several company and industry related Boards. He also is the Creator and Editor of OrthoSpineNews.

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