Airborne Transmission and Mitigation in Indoor Environment: Insights from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sunil Kumar, Meiyi Zhang, JOHN CATE, Hunter Welch, Maria King, Texas A&M University

     Abstract Number: 607
     Working Group: Control and Mitigation Technology

Abstract
The infrastructure of the global health system was disturbed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the virus's rapid spread, nations were forced to implement lockdowns, restrict travel, restrict industrial output, and shut down supply networks in order to stop the coronavirus from spreading. But the virus's widespread dissemination led to a high number of hospital admissions for patients in need of moderate to critical care. Compared to other well-known surface deposition modes, it was discovered that the infectious virus was primarily propagating through the air. The development of air flow patterns in the presence of exhaust and diffusers determines the transmission of viruses via the air, particularly in interior environments. Large-volume facilities, like assembly rooms, packaging rooms, and meat production rooms, are nevertheless extremely critical when equipped with a traditional HVAC system. The lengthy and complex air streams that ventilation ports produce have the ability to spread the virus from one area of the food processing facility to another. A single sneeze from an asymptomatic employee in such an environment might possibly distribute the virus droplets throughout the entire facility, making it a super spreader for the community. Effective contamination control and elimination of contaminated droplets are necessary for a safer indoor environment. Therefore, to stop the virus from spreading, air flow pattern design alterations are required. This study presents research that assesses the impact of installing a transparent separation between workers. The long-range air streamlines that could carry viruses from one place to another were mitigated by the placement of partitions. These barriers prevent virus-loaded droplets from spreading in local surroundings. The study maximizes droplet containment by optimizing partition design. Any industry can use the findings of this study, regardless of size or nature of job.