Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic for ventilation and indoor air quality.
Lidia MorawskaYuguo LiTunga SalthammerPublished in: Science (New York, N.Y.) (2024)
The rapid global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at the beginning of 2020 presented the world with its greatest health challenge in decades. It soon became clear that governments were unprepared to respond appropriately to this crisis. National and international public health authorities were confused about the transmission routes of the virus and the control measures required to protect against it. In particular, the need to reduce the risk of infection through sufficient and effective ventilation of indoor spaces was given little attention. In this review, we discuss insights and key lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the role of ventilation as an effective means against airborne transmission of pathogens and, more broadly, for supporting good indoor air quality.
Keyphrases
- public health
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- sars cov
- particulate matter
- air pollution
- respiratory failure
- health risk
- mechanical ventilation
- coronavirus disease
- working memory
- mental health
- extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
- gram negative
- drinking water
- acute respiratory distress syndrome
- health promotion
- human health