COVID-19 droplets travelled 14 metres from church singer to congregation
New research has found droplets from a church choir singer infected with coronavirus travelled through the air and infected congregation members up to 14 metres away.
The "Our Lady of Lebanon" cluster in Sydney's west was one of the first large super-spreading events in NSW during the early months of the pandemic.
A dozen people contracted the virus at the Harris Park church last year, and an 80-year-old grandmother died from the illness.
New research has found droplets from a church choir singer infected with coronavirus travelled through the air and infected congregation members up to 14 metres away. James Alcock
It has since been determined a member of the church choir standing on a loft three-and-a-half metres above the congregation unknowingly spread the virus.
It was a few days before the onset of symptoms, and he was at his most infectious when he sang at four services.
The evidence now suggests he effectively sprayed particles into the air while convection currents carried them towards people sitting in pews up to 14 metres away.
READ MORE: Great grandmother becomes NSW's 53rd COVID-19 victim after contracting virus at church
The research also concluded he did not touch any surfaces inside the church or mingle with the congregation so via air is the only way the virus could have been transmitted.
Twelve people in the audience were infected but interestingly ten fellow choir members did not get coronavirus.
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