is the coronavirus airborne?

i think that depends on your definition of 'airborne', and that trying to work these questions out in the popular press risks losing the important subtleties associated with them.

the virus appears to be more contagious than was previously thought at this point, and that may be due to a mutation that happened in europe a few months ago. if that strain has been further selected for over the last few months, perhaps even aided artificially by human behaviour like social distancing, then the increased contagiousness of the virus may be a characteristic of an upcoming second wave. 

but, does that meet the scientific definition of "airborne"? that is a more difficult question and one that wonks are going to probably spend quite a time working out, in reverse.

so, i wouldn't expect a firm answer on that question for quite a while, actually.

but, it may be prudent to adjust to the reality of a more contagious virus than we saw previously.