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Field Measurements Related to Potential Aerosol Transmission of COVID-19
Andrew Jeremijenko, Wasim Javed, Joel Malek, BING GUO, Texas A&M University at Qatar
Abstract Number: 251
Working Group: The Role of Aerosol Science in the Understanding of the Spread and Control of COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases
Abstract
Aerosol samples were collected with a high-efficiency bioaerosol sampler from multiple indoor facilities and tested for SARS-Cov-2 virus using real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Surface swab samples were also collected from these facilities and tested for the virus with the same assays. The highest aerosol virus concentration was detected in a patient room, at a level similar to that reported by other researchers. Positive aerosol samples were also obtained from a moderately crowded patient waiting area, where surface swab samples were also positive. However, aerosol samples tested negative from several other places, including an intensive care unit, a medical laundry facility, a sparsely visited fever clinic, and a long-term care facility. The aerosol sampling results support the notions that face masks, high rate of ventilation, high-efficiency particulate air filtration are effective ways to suppress virus aerosol concentration. On the other hand, surface swab samples from an air handling unit (AHU) testing positive suggests that infection through air movement in the HVAC system is a possibility, if the AHU filters do not capture infectious particles with sufficient efficiency. Details of the results and discussion will be provided during the conference presentation.