TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in COVID-19 isolation wards: On-site sampling and numerical analysis
AU - Huan, Wenjie
AU - Wang, Kailu
AU - Hung, Chi-tim
AU - Chow, Kai-ming
AU - Lai, Raymond
AU - Xu, Richard Huan
AU - Yeoh, Eng-Kiong
AU - Ho, Kin-Fai
AU - Chen, Chun
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was partially supported by the General Research Fund of Research Grants Council of Hong Kong SAR , China (Grant No. 14204520 ), the Health and Medical Research Fund of Food and Health Bureau of Hong Kong SAR , China (Grant No. COVID190101 ), and CUHK Direct Grant (2020.021).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2022/8/15
Y1 - 2022/8/15
N2 - Although airborne transmission has been considered as a possible route for the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the role that aerosols play in SARS-CoV-2 transmission is still controversial. This study evaluated the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 isolation wards at Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong by both on-site sampling and numerical analysis. A total of 838 air samples and 1176 surface samples were collected, and SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected using the RT-PCR method. Testing revealed that 2.3% of the air samples and 9.3% of the surface samples were positive, indicating that the isolation wards were contaminated with the virus. The dispersion and deposition of exhaled particles in the wards were calculated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The calculated accumulated number of particles collected at the air sampling points was closely correlated with the SARS-CoV-2 positive rates from the field sampling, which confirmed the possibility of airborne transmission. Furthermore, three potential intervention strategies, i.e., the use of curtains, ceiling-mounted air cleaners, and periodic ventilation, were numerically investigated to explore effective control measures in isolation wards. According to the results, the use of ceiling-mounted air cleaners is effective in reducing the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in such wards.
AB - Although airborne transmission has been considered as a possible route for the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the role that aerosols play in SARS-CoV-2 transmission is still controversial. This study evaluated the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 isolation wards at Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong by both on-site sampling and numerical analysis. A total of 838 air samples and 1176 surface samples were collected, and SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected using the RT-PCR method. Testing revealed that 2.3% of the air samples and 9.3% of the surface samples were positive, indicating that the isolation wards were contaminated with the virus. The dispersion and deposition of exhaled particles in the wards were calculated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The calculated accumulated number of particles collected at the air sampling points was closely correlated with the SARS-CoV-2 positive rates from the field sampling, which confirmed the possibility of airborne transmission. Furthermore, three potential intervention strategies, i.e., the use of curtains, ceiling-mounted air cleaners, and periodic ventilation, were numerically investigated to explore effective control measures in isolation wards. According to the results, the use of ceiling-mounted air cleaners is effective in reducing the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in such wards.
KW - Aerosol transmission
KW - Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
KW - Indoor environment
KW - RT-PCR test
KW - SARS-CoV-2
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85131138864&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129152
DO - 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129152
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0304-3894
VL - 436
JO - Journal of Hazardous Materials
JF - Journal of Hazardous Materials
M1 - 129152
ER -