Although at the start of the coronavirus outbreak there was general consensus among public health doctors that COVID-19 was mainly spread though droplets from person to person, there is now growing consensus that COVID-19 is mostly spread by aerosols. Aerosols are very small particles that can linger in the air for many hours. They are 50 microns in size, with particles of COVID-19 being 0.1 microns in diameter and many particles able to fit onto aerosols. It has been shown that indoor gatherings where someone is infected with coronavirus are more likely to cause a larger outbreak than gatherings outside with the infected person or people outside. This is due to the ability for aerosols to disperse out of the area where the people are gathered.
Ventilation is the process of moving outdoor into indoor
spaces. Most hospitals have very good ventilation which means that the exchange
from the outside to inside air is frequent and the vents where this occurs is
evenly spread out around the area.
-A study from Nebraska USA showed that 63% of air samples
were positive in hospital patients’ rooms and in hallways
-Even with the use of good ventilation social distancing and
PPE should still be used
-Appropriate distribution of vents (supply and exhaust)
ensures that adequate dilution is achieved
-The airborne particle of covid-19 has a half-life of more
than one hour energy consumption concerns (not wanting to waste heat) or if it
is an older building, people can install filters that will help to filter the
aerosols containing covid-19.
-Ultraviolet radiation can be used to deactivate potential virus contaminated air as it leaves the building to prevent it from coming back in.
References:
Jimenez, Jose-Luis. “COVID-19 Is
Transmitted Through Aerosols. We Need to Adapt.” Time, Time, 25 Aug.
2020, https://time.com/5883081/covid-19-transmitted-aerosols/
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