Publications
Publications
- 2022
The First Four Healthy Building Strategies Every Building Should Pursue to Reduce Risk from COVID-19
By: Joseph G. Allen, Emily Jones, Marissa V. Rainbolt, Linsey C. Marr, David Michaels, Leslie R. Cadet, Shelly L. Miller, Meira Levinson, Lidia Morawska, Richard L. Corsi, Nira R. Pollock, Yuguo Li, Alasdair P.S. Munro, Kelly Grier, Qingyan Chen, John D. Macomber and Xiaodong Cao
Abstract
Understanding of the most probable transmission routes and identifying the risk environments for disease spread should always be among the first critical steps in the response to future disease threats. This is one of the most vital public health lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic: with a well-informed understanding of the dominant mode(s) of transmission of an infectious disease, effective control strategies can quickly be specified, higher risk activities and environments can
be defined, and public health leaders may then set the course for a response that aims to efficiently and rapidly mitigate widespread transmission.
Laboratory, field, modeling, and case studies have demonstrated that airborne transmission via inhalation of virus-laden aerosols is important, if not dominant, for COVID-19. Aerosols are small respiratory particles that are suspended in the air and can be carried on air currents over long distances. They are released into the air during normal respiratory activities. Aerosols produced by infected individuals may contain pathogens and can be inhaled by others to cause new infection; when this occurs, it is known as airborne transmission. This can occur in both the near-field (within the vicinity of the infection source) and far-field (greater distance away from the infection source).
To combat the risk of airborne transmission of COVID-19, control strategies that reduce the concentration of (and therefore, the likelihood of inhaling) potentially infectious respiratory aerosols must be implemented. Increased outdoor air ventilation to dilute aerosols and reduce their concentration and/or enhanced filtration efficiency to remove particles from recirculated air have been shown to be effective as part of an overall strategy to reduce risk. These strategies should be prioritized in occupied environments in which aerosols accumulate most rapidly: indoor spaces with low outdoor air ventilation and/or low levels of (or no) filtration.
The Lancet COVID-19 Commission’s Task Force on Safe School, Safe Work, and Safe Travel have identified the following four key actions that represent the most effective, fundamental steps toward promoting healthier indoor environments and reducing the risk of airborne infectious disease transmission indoors.
Laboratory, field, modeling, and case studies have demonstrated that airborne transmission via inhalation of virus-laden aerosols is important, if not dominant, for COVID-19. Aerosols are small respiratory particles that are suspended in the air and can be carried on air currents over long distances. They are released into the air during normal respiratory activities. Aerosols produced by infected individuals may contain pathogens and can be inhaled by others to cause new infection; when this occurs, it is known as airborne transmission. This can occur in both the near-field (within the vicinity of the infection source) and far-field (greater distance away from the infection source).
To combat the risk of airborne transmission of COVID-19, control strategies that reduce the concentration of (and therefore, the likelihood of inhaling) potentially infectious respiratory aerosols must be implemented. Increased outdoor air ventilation to dilute aerosols and reduce their concentration and/or enhanced filtration efficiency to remove particles from recirculated air have been shown to be effective as part of an overall strategy to reduce risk. These strategies should be prioritized in occupied environments in which aerosols accumulate most rapidly: indoor spaces with low outdoor air ventilation and/or low levels of (or no) filtration.
The Lancet COVID-19 Commission’s Task Force on Safe School, Safe Work, and Safe Travel have identified the following four key actions that represent the most effective, fundamental steps toward promoting healthier indoor environments and reducing the risk of airborne infectious disease transmission indoors.
Keywords
Health Pandemics; Buildings and Facilities; Risk and Uncertainty; Health Industry; Education Industry; Real Estate Industry
Citation
Allen, Joseph G., Emily Jones, Marissa V. Rainbolt, Linsey C. Marr, David Michaels, Leslie R. Cadet, Shelly L. Miller, Meira Levinson, Lidia Morawska, Richard L. Corsi, Nira R. Pollock, Yuguo Li, Alasdair P.S. Munro, Kelly Grier, Qingyan Chen, John D. Macomber, and Xiaodong Cao. "The First Four Healthy Building Strategies Every Building Should Pursue to Reduce Risk from COVID-19." Report, Lancet COVID-19 Commission, Task Force on Safe School, Safe Work, Safe Travel, July 2022. (COVID-19 Commission.)