November 12, 2020

Long-Distance Airborne Dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 Wards

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Transmission

Keywords (Tags): transmission

• Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the ventilation system of 3 linked COVID-19 wards in a Swedish hospital suggests long-distance airborne dispersal beyond droplet transmission. SARS-CoV-2 genetic material was detected in 7 of 19 vent openings within wards, while 8 of 9 samples obtained from HEPA exhaust filters located several floors above the wards were also positive for genetic material. Inoculation of susceptible cell cultures with the samples did not demonstrate infectious virus at the time of sampling.

Nissen et al. (Nov 2020). Long-Distance Airborne Dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 Wards. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76442-2