Open AccessCOVID-19 is in the air: Why are we still ignoring the importance of ventilation?
Author(s) -
Néstor Y. Rojas,
Laura Andrea Rodríguez-Villamizar
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
ingeniería e investigación/ingeniería e investigación
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.204
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 2248-8723
pISSN - 0120-5609
DOI - 10.15446/ing.investig.v41n3.97492
Subject(s) - covid-19 , ventilation (architecture) , safer , pandemic , transmission (telecommunications) , plan (archaeology) , master plan , environmental science , environmental planning , business , environmental engineering , engineering , geography , meteorology , computer science , medicine , telecommunications , computer security , virology , disease , archaeology , pathology , outbreak , infectious disease (medical specialty)
The main transmission mechanism of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is airborne, particularly in poorly ventilated indoor environments. Recognizing the importance of this mechanism has taken a long time, despite the evidence generated by aerosol scientists from an early stage of the pandemic. Hence, measures applied more widely by the population have focused on the disinfection of surfaces, often in an exaggerated way, while measures focused on reducing the concentration of aerosols in indoor environments, such as adequate ventilation and air filtration, have been timidly promoted. In addition to the progress of the National Vaccination Plan, it is necessary to intensify transmission prevention measures for a safer reopening of the economy. It is therefore urgent, to educate and generate clear guidelines for the evaluation and improvement of ventilation in indoor spaces.