The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Monday that the novel coronavirus “can linger in the air for minutes to hours” after an infected person is no longer present, acknowledging its potential for airborne transmission.

The health authority said in an update on its website that the virus “may be able to infect people who are further than 6 feet away from the person who is infected or after that person has left the space.”

“This kind of spread is referred to as airborne transmission and is an important way that infections like tuberculosis, measles, and chickenpox are spread,” it said.

The CDC noted, however, that documented cases of such transmission are comparatively rare but “occurred within enclosed spaces that had inadequate ventilation” and sometimes occurred when the infected person was breathing heavily while singing or exercising.

Data continues to indicate that transmission more normally occurs when an individual is in close contact with someone else who is infected, the CDC said.

The US continues to be the nation worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic with over 7.4 million confirmed cases and more than 210,000 fatalities. (PNA)