Low Risk of Researchers Passing on Coronavirus.

• Position: NORTH AMERICAN BATS

The risk is low that scientists could pass coronavirus to North American bats during research, according to a study led by the U.S. Geological Survey. Scientists find the overall risk to be one in 1,000 if no protective measures are taken, and falls to one in 3,333 or less with proper use of personal protective equipment or if scientists test negative for COVID-19 before beginning research.

The study specifically looked at the potential transmission of SARS-CoV-2, which is the type of coronavirus that causes COVID-19, from people to bats. Scientists did not examine potential transmission from bats to people.

"This is a small number, but the consequences of human-to-bat transmission of coronavirus are potentially large," says study coauthor Evan Grant. "The virus has not been identified in North American bats but, if it is introduced, it could lead to illness and mortality, which may imperil long-term bat conservation. It could also represent a source for new exposure and infection in humans.

These are hard risks for wildlife managers and other decisionmakers to weigh as they consider whether and how to allow researchers to study bats.

Bats provide natural services that people value. For instance, previous USGS studies found that bats save the U.S. agriculture industry more than...