Journal
INTERFACE FOCUS
Volume 12, Issue 2, Pages -Publisher
ROYAL SOC
DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2021.0076
Keywords
CARA; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; airborne transmission; modelling; risk assessment
Categories
Funding
- CERN's HSE Unit
- CERN's Beams Department
- CERN's Experimental Physics Department
- CERN's Information Technology Department
- CERN's Industry, Procurement and Knowledge Transfer Department
- CERN's International Relations Sector
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This paper presents the COVID Airborne Risk Assessment methodology, which assesses the potential exposure to airborne SARS-CoV-2 viruses in indoor settings. It combines virological and immunological factors, as well as physical and mechanical aspects, to provide decision makers and facility managers with a comprehensive evaluation. The study confirms the importance of super-emitters in airborne transmission and highlights the effectiveness of measures such as mask usage and natural ventilation in reducing viral emissions.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for a proper risk assessment of respiratory pathogens in indoor settings. This paper documents the COVID Airborne Risk Assessment methodology, to assess the potential exposure of airborne SARS-CoV-2 viruses, with an emphasis on virological and immunological factors in the quantification of the risk. The model results from a multidisciplinary approach linking physical, mechanical and biological domains, enabling decision makers or facility managers to assess their indoor setting. The model was benchmarked against clinical data, as well as two real-life outbreaks, showing good agreement. A probability of infection is computed in several everyday-life settings and with various mitigation measures. The importance of super-emitters in airborne transmission is confirmed: 20% of infected hosts can emit approximately two orders of magnitude more viral-containing particles. The use of masks provides a fivefold reduction in viral emissions. Natural ventilation strategies are very effective to decrease the concentration of virions, although periodic venting strategies are not ideal in certain settings. Although vaccination is an effective measure against hospitalization, their effectiveness against transmission is not optimal, hence non-pharmaceutical interventions (ventilation, masks) should be actively supported. We also propose a critical threshold to define an acceptable risk level.
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