Masks and closed-loop ventilators prevent environmental contamination by COVID-19 patients in negative-pressure environments

Herein, we report that nosocomial infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may be mitigated by using surgical masks and closed looped ventilation for both non-critical and critical patients. These preventive measures resulted in no viral contamination of surfaces in negative pressure environments. Copyright (c) 2020, Taiwan Society of Microbiology. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync-nd/4.0/).

Automated summary

In hospitals, the use of surgical masks and closed looped ventilation systems can mitigate nosocomial infection of SARS-CoV-2, with these preventive measures resulting in no viral contamination of surfaces in negative pressure environments.