Understanding the uses and limitations of ventilation and air cleaning in COVID-19-risk mitigation

Summary: Given the ongoing uncertainty as to whether short- and/or long-range aerosol transmission is a significant factor in the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been intense interest around both the role of ventilation systems in spreading of SARS-CoV-2, as well as the use of ventilation to reduce transmission. Even without fully understanding the role of smaller vs. larger particles in the pandemic, promoting healthy indoor spaces by exchanging and cleaning air is standard practice in hospital, commercial, or residential settings. However, although ventilation and air cleaning have a role to play in risk reduction, they are likewise not a panacea for eliminating risk of COVID-19 transmission indoors. In this webinar, we will discuss the functional differences between ventilation and air cleaning, some of the recent research looking at the role of these technologies in the pandemic, and what strategies and practices are being promoted thus far for COVID-19 risk mitigation. Presenters: Dr. Juliette O’Keeffe is an Environmental Health Knowledge Translation Scientist at the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health (NCCEH), which is based at the BC Centre for Disease Control and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Her work focuses on synthesizing research across a range of environmental health topic areas including water and air quality and now COVID-19 transmission and mitigation measures to help inform practitioners and policy makers. Her previous experience includes delivering environmental and public health research for industry, government, and policy-makers in Scotland. She holds degrees in Environmental Biology, Energy and Environmental Management and a PhD in Environmental Science. Dr. Angela Eykelbosh is also an Environmental Health Knowledge Translation specialist at the NCCEH. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, she monitors and synthesizes the evidence on aerosol transmission and aerosol-implicated outbreaks, as well as the literature examining the role of ventilation and air cleaning in COVID-19 transmission. She holds degrees in Physiology and Development Biology, Zoology and Toxicology, and Resource Management and Environmental Studies.

BC CDC Presenters

1/12/2021 8:00:00 PM