The World Health Organisation WHO on Tuesday admitted the possibility of airborne transmission of the novel Coronavirus, which causes the deadly respiratory disease that has so far infected over 12 million people globally.

The WHO-s announcement came after 239 scientists in 32 countries, in an open letter, requested the UN health agency to acknowledge the airborne transmission of the virus and update its COVID-19 guidelines accordingly. The WHO said its expert committees are reviewing the evidence and will update the COVID-19 recommendations in a few days, the New York Times reported.