Air conditioning and the virus

A trade union safety rep has raised concern over the building’s air conditioning system, stating that it could be spreading the Covid-19 virus. Is this the case and what should we be doing to reduce the risk?

Q

A trade union safety rep has raised concern over the building’s air conditioning system, stating that it could be spreading the Covid-19 virus. Is this the case and what should we be doing to reduce the risk?

A

First make sure everyone is aware of the current understanding of how the coronavirus is being transmitted.

Public Health England states that “according to current evidence, the Covid-19 virus is primarily transmitted between people through respiratory droplets and contact routes” and that “airborne transmission may be possible in specific circumstances and settings in which procedures or support treatments that generate aerosols are performed”.

In general, infectious droplets fall out of the air stream within a short distance (depending on air flow and direction) hence the recommendation to socially distance at 2m.

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