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Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering

ISSN 2095-2201

ISSN 2095-221X(Online)

CN 10-1013/X

Postal Subscription Code 80-973

2018 Impact Factor: 3.883

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng.    2021, Vol. 15 Issue (3) : 35    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-020-1328-8
VIEWS & COMMENTS
Can we migrate COVID-19 spreading risk?
Qingyan Chen()
School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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Abstract

It is well recognized that Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus could be spread through touch and large droplets. However, we may have under-estimated the disease transmission by small droplets or aerosols that contain SARS-CoV-2 virus. Social distancing in public transport vehicles, such as airplanes, is not feasible. It is also not possible to wear masks in restaurant. This paper recommended wearing masks in airplanes and use partition screens in the middle of a table in a restaurant to reduce the infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. Advanced ventilation systems, such as personalized ventilation and displacement ventilation, are strongly recommended for transport vehicles and buildings.

Keywords Airborne transmission      Ventilation      Masks      Partitions     
Corresponding Author(s): Qingyan Chen   
Issue Date: 26 August 2020
 Cite this article:   
Qingyan Chen. Can we migrate COVID-19 spreading risk?[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2021, 15(3): 35.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-020-1328-8
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y2021/V15/I3/35
Fig.1  Transport of droplet cloud coughed out by a diner (left) to the other diner across a table (right): (a) without a screen and (b) with a screen.
Fig.2  Schematic of the personalized ventilation system: (a) air flow from the lower part to the ceiling level of an aircraft cabin; (b) Normalized distribution of small droplets with 1 um by a passenger sit on an aisle seat.
Fig.3  A classroom with displacement ventilation that does not mix air so it can minimize infectious disease transmission.
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