2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Built Environment Considerations To Reduce Transmission
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 28 April 2020
- journal article
- review article
- Published by American Society for Microbiology in mSystems
Abstract
With the rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that results in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), corporate entities, federal, state, county, and city governments, universities, school districts, places of worship, prisons, health care facilities, assisted living organizations, daycares, homeowners, and other building owners and occupants have an opportunity to reduce the potential for transmission through built environment (BE)-mediated pathways. Over the last decade, substantial research into the presence, abundance, diversity, function, and transmission of microbes in the BE has taken place and revealed common pathogen exchange pathways and mechanisms. In this paper, we synthesize this microbiology of the BE research and the known information about SARS-CoV-2 to provide actionable and achievable guidance to BE decision makers, building operators, and all indoor occupants attempting to minimize infectious disease transmission through environmentally mediated pathways. We believe this information is useful to corporate and public administrators and individuals responsible for building operations and environmental services in their decision-making process about the degree and duration of social-distancing measures during viral epidemics and pandemics.Keywords
Other Versions
This publication has 85 references indexed in Scilit:
- Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation: Future Directions for Air Disinfection and Building ApplicationsPhotochemistry and Photobiology, 2013
- High Humidity Leads to Loss of Infectious Influenza Virus from Simulated CoughsPLOS ONE, 2013
- Mechanisms by Which Ambient Humidity May Affect Viruses in AerosolsApplied and Environmental Microbiology, 2012
- Amplitude Reduction and Phase Shifts of Melatonin, Cortisol and Other Circadian Rhythms after a Gradual Advance of Sleep and Light Exposure in HumansPLOS ONE, 2012
- Architectural design influences the diversity and structure of the built environment microbiomeThe ISME Journal, 2012
- The Effects of Temperature and Relative Humidity on the Viability of the SARS CoronavirusAdvances in Virology, 2011
- Effects of Air Temperature and Relative Humidity on Coronavirus Survival on SurfacesApplied and Environmental Microbiology, 2010
- Cross-Species Virus Transmission and the Emergence of New Epidemic DiseasesMicrobiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, 2008
- Effects of humidity and other factors on the generation and sampling of a coronavirus aerosolAerobiologia, 2007
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and SportSports Medicine, 2004