Abstract
The multiple modes of SARS-CoV-2 transmission including airborne, droplet, contact, and fecal–oral transmissions that cause coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) contribute to a public threat to the lives of people worldwide. Herein, different databases are reviewed to evaluate modes of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and study the effects of negative pressure ventilation, air conditioning system, and related protection approaches of this virus. Droplet transmission was commonly reported to occur in particles with diameter >5 µm that can quickly settle gravitationally on surfaces (1–2 m). Instead, fine and ultrafine particles (airborne transmission) can stay suspended for an extended period of time (≥2 h) and be transported further, e.g., up to 8 m through simple diffusion and convection mechanisms. Droplet and airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 can be limited indoors with adequate ventilation of rooms, by routine disinfection of toilets, using negative pressure rooms, using face masks, and maintaining social distancing. Other preventive measures recommended include increasing the number of screening tests of suspected carriers of SARS-CoV-2, reducing the number of persons in a room to minimize sharing indoor air, and monitoring people’s temperature before accessing a building. The work reviews a body of literature supporting the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through air, causing COVID-19 disease, which requires coordinated worldwide strategies.
Highlights
Accepted: 31 December 2020The rapid outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that is spread via airborne, droplet, contact, and fecal–oral transmission modes constitutes a worldwide and disruptive challenge to societies [1,2]
Papers appearing in international databases (Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Sciences, Science Direct, and Embase) were identified by the following keywords: coronavirus, coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19, personal protective equipment, transmission, airborne, contact, fecal–oral, droplet, outbreak, betaCoVs, respiratory, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2, bioaerosol, aerosol, airborne particle, air, negative pressure, ventilation, air conditioning, social distancing, N95 respirator, mask, alcohol, facemask, ambient air, and indoor air
Preference was given to papers in journals that provide information in the field of airborne and droplet transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus; the effects of different factors such as environmental conditions, negative pressure ventilation (NPV), air conditioning system, displacement ventilation (DV), noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV), and high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) on the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2; and effects of protection approaches for transmission of SARS-CoV-2
Summary
The rapid outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that is spread via airborne, droplet, contact, and fecal–oral transmission modes constitutes a worldwide and disruptive challenge to societies [1,2]. Both symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers have been recognized to transmit the SARS-CoV-2 virus via various modes of transmission [3,4,5], causing severe respiratory infections among patients receiving medical care in hospitals [6,7,8,9,10,11]. At least a 70% genetic similarity of SARS-CoV-2 to the original Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), as well as it being a subspecies of Sarbecovirus, has been reported [18,19]
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