As more UK workers and students return to offices and schools, a new paper<\/a><\/span> published in the Indoor and Built Environment journal details a new model that has been developed to predict the risk of airborne COVID-19 infection in such environments.<\/p>\n The model \u2013 developed by researchers at Imperial College London, the University of Cambridge and University of Leeds, and jointly funded by the PROTECT COVID-19 National Core Study<\/a><\/span> and UK Research and Innovation \u2013 uses monitored CO2 and occupancy data to predict how many workers are likely to be infected by an asymptomatic but infectious colleague.<\/p>\n High indoor CO2 levels are related to lower ventilation rates and high occupancy, so monitoring them can provide an important red flag to building managers to identify areas of inadequate ventilation. This can help assess the risk of airborne transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Achievable interventions can then be made, for instance, to improve ventilation or change worker attendance patterns to reduce occupancy.<\/p>\n While applications of the infection model so far have demonstrated that most workers in well ventilated open plan offices are unlikely to infect each other via airborne particles, the risk becomes greater if the space is poorly ventilated or if the workers are involved in activities which require more speaking. For instance, the model predicts each infected person could infect two to four others in an adequately ventilated but noisy call centre. Risks are also likely to increase if the infected individual is a \u2018super spreader\u2019.<\/p>\n Dr Henry Burridge, Senior Lecturer in Fluid Mechanics at Imperial College London and lead author of the paper, said:<\/strong> \u201cIn shared spaces such as offices and classrooms, exposure to infectious airborne matter builds up over time, during which room occupancy may vary. By using carbon dioxide levels as a proxy for exhaled breath, our new model can assess the variable exposure risk as people come and go.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOur work emphasises the importance of good ventilation in workplaces and in schools. The model demonstrates that by managing the ventilation and occupancy levels of shared spaces we can manage the risk of airborne infection by a virus such as that which causes COVID-19.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Professor Andrew Curran, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Health and Safety Executive and lead for the PROTECT study, added: <\/strong>\u201cThis important research demonstrates that, while the airborne transmission route can be a significant contributor to COVID-19 infection risk in places such as offices and schools, there are achievable steps that can be taken to reduce this risk and help facilitate a safe return. Ensuring adequate ventilation is a key element, and the appropriate use of tools such as CO2 monitoring can give building managers a much better understanding of their own ventilation systems and how they are performing for each activity undertaken in the space.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHowever, the airborne route is just one of three known routes of transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Close-range person-to-person and surface transmission risks must also be assessed, and relevant measures applied to control all routes of exposure for all activities where risk is identified. For most businesses, a COVID-19 control strategy will involve a blended combination of measures identified through a risk assessment \u2013 there is no silver bullet.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Professor Charlotte Deane, UKRI Director for the COVID-19 Response and Deputy Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, said: <\/strong>\u201cA key challenge throughout the pandemic has been to understand how this novel virus is transmitted and to develop measures which could be implemented to curb the spread of infection. This study highlights that research and innovation supported by UKRI and the National Core Studies programme is continuing to evolve our understanding of the virus and helping us to develop knowledge which will be key to the global post-pandemic recovery.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The findings in this press release are from the \u2018<\/em>Predictive and retrospective modelling of airborne infection risk using monitored carbon dioxide<\/em><\/a><\/span>\u2019<\/em> paper, published in the Indoor and Built Environment journal on 28 September 2021.<\/p>\n Authors: Henry C. Burridge, Shiwei Fan, Roderic L. Jones, Catherine J. Noakes and P. F. Linden.<\/p>\n DOI: 10.1177\/1420326X211043564<\/p>\n The research was funded from two sources: as part of the PROTECT COVID-19 National Core Study on transmission and environment, managed by the Health and Safety Executive on behalf of the UK Government; and by two UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) grants \u2013 the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) grant \u2018Managing Air for Green Inner Cities\u2019 (MAGIC) and the UKRI grant \u2018Covid-19 Transmission Risk Assessment Case Studies \u2013 education establishments\u2019.<\/p>\n The PROTECT COVID-19 National Core Study<\/a><\/span> on transmission and environment is a UK-wide research programme improving our understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is transmitted from person to person, and how this varies in different settings and environments. This improved understanding will enable more effective measures to stop transmission, saving lives and getting society back towards \u2018normal\u2019.<\/p>\n Led by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)\u2019s Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Andrew Curran, this critical work is being delivered by around 200 researchers from 20 institutions across the UK. The PROTECT study began in October 2020, as part of the COVID-19 National Core Studies<\/a><\/span> programme spearheaded by UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance. It is currently funded by HM Treasury until March 2022.<\/p>\n Find out more on the PROTECT website<\/a><\/span>, follow @PROTECT_NCS<\/a><\/span> on Twitter, or sign up for updates<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)<\/a><\/span> is the largest public funder of research and innovation in the UK, with a budget of\u00a0around\u00a0\u00a38bn. It is composed of seven disciplinary research councils, Innovate UK and Research England.<\/p>\n We operate across the whole country and work with our many partners in higher education, research organisations businesses, government, and charities.<\/p>\n Our\u00a0vision<\/strong>\u00a0is for an outstanding research and innovation system in the UK that gives everyone the opportunity to contribute and to benefit, enriching lives locally, nationally and internationally.<\/p>\n Our\u00a0mission<\/strong>\u00a0is to convene, catalyse and invest in close collaboration with others to build a thriving, inclusive research and innovation system that connects discovery to prosperity and public good.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav _builder_version=”3.0.106″ in_same_term=”off” show_prev=”on” show_next=”on” prev_text=”Previous” next_text=”Next” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” \/][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”3.0.106″ show_avatar=”on” show_reply=”on” show_count=”on” background_layout=”light” header_font_size_tablet=”51″ header_line_height_tablet=”2″ custom_button=”on” button_icon_placement=”right” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_use_icon=”off” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover=”null” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover=”null” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover=”null” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Related posts” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_layout=”light” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”3.0.106″ area=”sidebar-1″ orientation=”left” show_border=”off” background_layout=”light” locked=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.11.1″ background_color=”#1d1d1d” prev_background_color=”#ffffff” global_module=”1519″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” global_parent=”1519″ parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” module_id=”footer-row” _builder_version=”3.0.89″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Address Title” global_parent=”1519″ _builder_version=”3.17.6″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark”]<\/p>\n Contact Us<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Address” global_parent=”1519″ module_id=”address” module_class=”contact-us” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n Email:\u00a0PROTECT@hse.gov.uk<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Health & Safety Executive \u2013 Science Division [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Connect Title” global_parent=”1519″ _builder_version=”3.17.6″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark”]<\/p>\n Connect with us<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Social Media” global_parent=”1519″ _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/ul>\n [\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Collection of CO2 and occupancy data in offices enables the identification of poorly ventilated or overcrowded work areas. Quiet desk work in a well-ventilated office is unlikely to significantly spread COVID-19 via the airborne route, but infected people who undertake lots of vocal work (e.g. in call centres) could pose a higher risk to others, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4299,"featured_media":2172,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" As more UK workers and students return to offices and schools, a new paper<\/a> published in the Indoor and Built Environment journal details a new model that has been developed to predict the risk of airborne COVID-19 infection in such environments.<\/p> The model \u2013 developed by researchers at Imperial College London, the University of Cambridge and University of Leeds, and jointly funded by the PROTECT COVID-19 National Core Study<\/a> and UK Research and Innovation \u2013 uses monitored CO2 and occupancy data to predict how many workers are likely to be infected by an asymptomatic but infectious colleague.<\/p> High indoor CO2 levels are related to lower ventilation rates and high occupancy, so monitoring them can provide an important red flag to building managers to identify areas of inadequate ventilation. This can help assess the risk of airborne transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Achievable interventions can then be made, for instance, to improve ventilation or change worker attendance patterns to reduce occupancy.<\/p> While applications of the infection model so far have demonstrated that most workers in well ventilated open plan offices are unlikely to infect each other via airborne particles, the risk becomes greater if the space is poorly ventilated or if the workers are involved in activities which require more speaking. For instance, the model predicts each infected person could infect two to four others in an adequately ventilated but noisy call centre. Risks are also likely to increase if the infected individual is a \u2018super spreader\u2019.<\/p> Dr Henry Burridge, Senior Lecturer in Fluid Mechanics at Imperial College London and lead author of the paper, said:<\/strong> \u201cIn shared spaces such as offices and classrooms, exposure to infectious airborne matter builds up over time, during which room occupancy may vary. By using carbon dioxide levels as a proxy for exhaled breath, our new model can assess the variable exposure risk as people come and go.<\/em><\/p> \u201cOur work emphasises the importance of good ventilation in workplaces and in schools. The model demonstrates that by managing the ventilation and occupancy levels of shared spaces we can manage the risk of airborne infection by a virus such as that which causes COVID-19.\u201d<\/em><\/p> Professor Andrew Curran, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Health and Safety Executive and lead for the PROTECT study, added: <\/strong>\u201cThis important research demonstrates that, while the airborne transmission route can be a significant contributor to COVID-19 infection risk in places such as offices and schools, there are achievable steps that can be taken to reduce this risk and help facilitate a safe return. Ensuring adequate ventilation is a key element, and the appropriate use of tools such as CO2 monitoring can give building managers a much better understanding of their own ventilation systems and how they are performing for each activity undertaken in the space.<\/em><\/p> \u201cHowever, the airborne route is just one of three known routes of transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Close-range person-to-person and surface transmission risks must also be assessed, and relevant measures applied to control all routes of exposure for all activities where risk is identified. For most businesses, a COVID-19 control strategy will involve a blended combination of measures identified through a risk assessment \u2013 there is no silver bullet.\u201d<\/em><\/p> Professor Charlotte Deane, UKRI Director for the COVID-19 Response and Deputy Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, said: <\/strong>\u201cA key challenge throughout the pandemic has been to understand how this novel virus is transmitted and to develop measures which could be implemented to curb the spread of infection. This study highlights that research and innovation supported by UKRI and the National Core Studies programme is continuing to evolve our understanding of the virus and helping us to develop knowledge which will be key to the global post-pandemic recovery.\u201d<\/em><\/p> Notes to editors:<\/u><\/strong><\/p> About the paper<\/strong><\/p> The findings in this press release are from the \u2018<\/em>Predictive and retrospective modelling of airborne infection risk using monitored carbon dioxide<\/em><\/a>\u2019<\/em> paper, published in the Indoor and Built Environment journal on 28 September 2021.<\/p> Authors: Henry C. Burridge, Shiwei Fan, Roderic L. Jones, Catherine J. Noakes and P. F. Linden.<\/p> DOI: 10.1177\/1420326X211043564<\/p> The research was funded from two sources: as part of the PROTECT COVID-19 National Core Study on transmission and environment, managed by the Health and Safety Executive on behalf of the UK Government; and by two UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) grants \u2013 the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) grant \u2018Managing Air for Green Inner Cities\u2019 (MAGIC) and the UKRI grant \u2018Covid-19 Transmission Risk Assessment Case Studies \u2013 education establishments\u2019.<\/p> \u00a0<\/strong>About the PROTECT study<\/strong><\/p> The PROTECT COVID-19 National Core Study<\/a> on transmission and environment is a UK-wide research programme improving our understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is transmitted from person to person, and how this varies in different settings and environments. This improved understanding will enable more effective measures to stop transmission, saving lives and getting society back towards \u2018normal\u2019.<\/p> Led by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)\u2019s Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Andrew Curran, this critical work is being delivered by around 200 researchers from 20 institutions across the UK. The PROTECT study began in October 2020, as part of the COVID-19 National Core Studies<\/a> programme spearheaded by UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance. It is currently funded by HM Treasury until March 2022.<\/p> Find out more on the PROTECT website<\/a>, follow @PROTECT_NCS<\/a> on Twitter, or sign up for updates<\/a>.<\/p> About UK Research and Innovation<\/strong><\/p> UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the largest public funder of research and innovation in the UK, with a budget of\u00a0around\u00a0\u00a38bn. It is composed of seven disciplinary research councils, Innovate UK and Research England.<\/p> We operate across the whole country and work with our many partners in higher education, research organisations businesses, government, and charities.<\/p> Our\u00a0vision<\/strong>\u00a0is for an outstanding research and innovation system in the UK that gives everyone the opportunity to contribute and to benefit, enriching lives locally, nationally and internationally.<\/p> Our\u00a0mission<\/strong>\u00a0is to convene, catalyse and invest in close collaboration with others to build a thriving, inclusive research and innovation system that connects discovery to prosperity and public good.Notes to editors:<\/h2>\n
About the paper<\/h3>\n
\u00a0About the PROTECT study<\/h3>\n
About UK Research and Innovation<\/h3>\n
Related<\/h1>\n
Related posts:<\/h3>
Clean air works \u2013 let\u2019s make it core to a healthy and productive learning environment.<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>
SARS-CoV-2 detected on exhaled breath by facemask sampling predicts how likely someone is to transmi...<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>
Room-Based Assessment of Mobile Air Cleaning Devices Using a Bioaerosol Challenge<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>
Harpur Hill
Buxton
SK17 9JN<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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www.ukri.org<\/a>.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,62],"tags":[48,33,29,16],"class_list":["post-2167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-theme-2-transmission-modelling","tag-co2","tag-covid-19","tag-protect","tag-transmission"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/covid19-national-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2167","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/covid19-national-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/covid19-national-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/covid19-national-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4299"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/covid19-national-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2167"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/covid19-national-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2167\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2604,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/covid19-national-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2167\/revisions\/2604"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/covid19-national-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2172"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/covid19-national-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/covid19-national-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/covid19-national-project\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}