Factors Affecting Indoor Air against the Transmission Risk of Coronavirus Disease 2019: Systematic Review and Policy Analysis

Abstract

BACKGROUND:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is thought to be transmitted primarily through droplets and contaminated surfaces through aerosols. AIM: Therefore, this study aims to identify the risk of COVID-19 agents in aerosol form and how indoor air control technique plays a role in the risk of disease transmission. It also examines the existing policies as administrative controls in managing the risk of COVID-19 transmission through indoor air control techniques. METHODS: This is a systematic review and policy study carried out in line with the preferred reporting item for systematic review and meta-analysis guidelines using ProQuest, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases. Furthermore, the search strategy was carried out using keywords with the Boolean AND and OR operations, namely, “COVID-19 AND (Transmission OR Spread) AND (aerosol OR airborne OR microdroplet) AND (Indoor OR Indoor Air OR Ventilation). RESULTS: In the policy review, the analysis unit was obtained from the official websites of the Indonesian Government and World Health Organization in the form of regulations, recommendations, guidelines, or other protocols that regulate indoor activities during the pandemic. There is a risk of COVID-19 agents from aerosols in indoor air. Meanwhile, the control of indoor air techniques plays a role in reducing the risk of transmission through aerosols by (1) increasing the exchange of indoor with outdoor air, (2) using air purifiers, and (3) paying attention to the layout of ventilation devices, airflow direction and distribution, as well as the flow of clean and dirty air in a room. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, the existing policies are still minimal in preventing transmission risk through indoor aerosols; hence, policy development is needed.