Effects of ventilation on the indoor spread of COVID-19

Bhagat, Rajesh K.; Wykes, Megan S. Davies; Dalziel, Stuart B.; Linden, P. F.

doi:10.1017/jfm.2020.720

Cited by 343 publications

(319 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…However, Cook et al stated that the high air-exchange rates in the rooms were more important than whether the rooms were under negative or positive pressure and they recommended that particles should be prevented from settling in places with a low rate of air exchange or no ventilation [ 71 ]. Furthermore, Bhagat et al performed a study about different forms of ventilation, including mixing ventilation, natural and mechanical displacement ventilation, and wind-driven ventilation [ 108 ]. Importantly, if displacement ventilation is designed properly to promote vertical stratification, it can reduce indoor warm air pollutants close to the ceiling [ 108 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, Bhagat et al performed a study about different forms of ventilation, including mixing ventilation, natural and mechanical displacement ventilation, and wind-driven ventilation [ 108 ]. Importantly, if displacement ventilation is designed properly to promote vertical stratification, it can reduce indoor warm air pollutants close to the ceiling [ 108 ]. Hence, displacement ventilation should be the most effective for diminishing the exposure risk of SARS-CoV-2 and can be simply and cheaply installed via vents or fans at the top of the space [ 108 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Importantly, if displacement ventilation is designed properly to promote vertical stratification, it can reduce indoor warm air pollutants close to the ceiling [ 108 ]. Hence, displacement ventilation should be the most effective for diminishing the exposure risk of SARS-CoV-2 and can be simply and cheaply installed via vents or fans at the top of the space [ 108 ]. Instead, mixing ventilation disperses indoor air throughout the space and cannot support any potentially clean zones [ 108 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hence, displacement ventilation should be the most effective for diminishing the exposure risk of SARS-CoV-2 and can be simply and cheaply installed via vents or fans at the top of the space [ 108 ]. Instead, mixing ventilation disperses indoor air throughout the space and cannot support any potentially clean zones [ 108 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Modes of Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Factors Influencing on the Airborne Transmission: A Review

Delikhoon

Guzmán

Nabizadeh

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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The multiple modes of SARS-CoV-2 transmission including airborne, droplet, contact, and fecal–oral transmissions that cause coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) contribute to a public threat to the lives of people worldwide. Herein, different databases are reviewed to evaluate modes of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and study the effects of negative pressure ventilation, air conditioning system, and related protection approaches of this virus. Droplet transmission was commonly reported to occur in particles with diameter >5 µm that can quickly settle gravitationally on surfaces (1–2 m). Instead, fine and ultrafine particles (airborne transmission) can stay suspended for an extended period of time (≥2 h) and be transported further, e.g., up to 8 m through simple diffusion and convection mechanisms. Droplet and airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 can be limited indoors with adequate ventilation of rooms, by routine disinfection of toilets, using negative pressure rooms, using face masks, and maintaining social distancing. Other preventive measures recommended include increasing the number of screening tests of suspected carriers of SARS-CoV-2, reducing the number of persons in a room to minimize sharing indoor air, and monitoring people’s temperature before accessing a building. The work reviews a body of literature supporting the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through air, causing COVID-19 disease, which requires coordinated worldwide strategies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Modes of Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Factors Influencing on the Airborne Transmission: A Review

Delikhoon

Guzmán

Nabizadeh

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…Indoors are more risky areas where it is di cult to keep the distance between people wide [15]. Another possible situation that increases the risk is the longer stay together indoors [16]. Well ventilation, essential for a healthy indoor climate, helps limit the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus [17].…”

Section: Evaluation Of the Matrixmentioning

confidence: 99%

A matrix for the evaluation of COVID-19 contact risk in healthcare workers: Technical note

Durmaz

Durusoy

2020

Preprint

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Detecting risky contacts and early isolation of healthcare workers who have been in contact with COVID-19 cases will increase the likelihood of limiting the spread of the infection. The aim of this technical note is to propose a reliable, fast-adaptable and easy-to-use matrix that accurately classifies risk for contact tracing of healthcare workers with COVID-19 patients. The researchers have created a matrix with the support of the literature and their experience within the university hospital surveillance team. This matrix enables a detailed High / Medium / Low Risk classification of contacts of healthcare workers with COVID-19 cases, covering many different contact situations encountered in a university hospital. The distinction between different contact risk categories implies different preventive measures: High-risk contacts are isolated at home for 7 days and return to work if they test PCR-negative on day 7; while medium and low risk contacts continue to work using masks, with medium-risk contacts tested on day 7, so it is important to standardize the classification among different interviewers. Three main headings have come to the fore in health worker contact risk classification: 1. Differences caused by the ventilation of the environment: Indoors, well ventilated indoors, outdoors. 2. Direct contact or material sharing. 3. Aerosol generating procedure (AGP). The matrix has been used effectively in 1169 risky contact interviews over a two-month period (24 August - 23 October 2020). It has been evaluated by two groups: the surveillance team using it routinely for contact tracing and by experts. The matrix is quickly adapted by new surveillance team members and is easy to use.

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From Microscopic Droplets to Macroscopic Crowds: Crossing the Scales in Models of Short‐Range Respiratory Disease Transmission, with Application to COVID‐19

2023

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Short‐range exposure to airborne virus‐laden respiratory droplets is an effective transmission route of respiratory diseases, as exemplified by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19). In order to assess the risks associated with this pathway in daily‐life settings involving tens to hundreds of individuals, the chasm needs to be bridged between fluid dynamical simulations and population‐scale epidemiological models. This is achieved by simulating droplet trajectories at the microscale in numerous ambient flows, coarse‐graining their results into spatio‐temporal maps of viral concentration around the emitter, and coupling these maps to field‐data about pedestrian crowds in different scenarios (streets, train stations, markets, queues, and street cafés). At the individual scale, the results highlight the paramount importance of the velocity of the ambient air flow relative to the emitter's motion. This aerodynamic effect, which disperses infectious aerosols, prevails over all other environmental variables. At the crowd's scale, the method yields a ranking of the scenarios by the risks of new infections, dominated by the street cafés and then the outdoor market. While the effect of light winds on the qualitative ranking is fairly marginal, even the most modest air flows dramatically lower the quantitative rates of new infections.

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Effects of ventilation on the indoor spread of COVID-19

Abstract: Abstract

Cited by 343 publications

References 50 publications

Modes of Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Factors Influencing on the Airborne Transmission: A Review

Modes of Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Factors Influencing on the Airborne Transmission: A Review

A matrix for the evaluation of COVID-19 contact risk in healthcare workers: Technical note

From Microscopic Droplets to Macroscopic Crowds: Crossing the Scales in Models of Short‐Range Respiratory Disease Transmission, with Application to COVID‐19

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