COVID-19: Is it safer to ride an air-conditioned vehicle or not?

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire talks with reporters via Zoom meeting on Thursday, April 23, 2020. INQUIRER.net file photo / Daphne Galvez

MANILA, Philippines — Does riding an air-conditioned vehicle lessen the risk of contracting the coronavirus, or is it safer to roll your windows down?

The Department of Health (DOH) said that it doesn’t matter as long as you wear your face mask and practice social distancing inside the car.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Tuesday reminded that the coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, is not airborne and is transmitted only through droplets.

“If you would prefer na wala kayong aircon sa kotse, that’s up to you. But as we say right now, droplet infection siya,” she told reporters in an online media forum.

(If you prefer to not turn on the aircon inside the car, that’s up to you. But as we say right now, the disease is transmitted through droplet infection.)

“As long as you wear your mask, as long as you are distant from the person next to you, I think ‘yung possibility and probability of getting infected is very low,” Vergeire added.

So far, the country has 30,682 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 8,143 deaths and 1,777 deaths.