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Tag: covid-19
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US government launches National COVID-19 Plan
The US government has released its National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, laying out a roadmap for dealing with the pandemic and getting back to more normal routines. It includes measures such as vaccination, accurate advice on the use of masks and PPE, and ongoing monitoring of the virus, as well as a focus on ventilation. Strong […]
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The end of hotel quarantine in Victoria
Hotel quarantine will finish in Victoria at the end of the month, with the purpose-built Victorian Quarantine Hub in Mickleham, north of Melbourne, becoming the sole quarantine site for unvaccinated travellers. The hub, which opened in February, has gradually been ramping up operations. From April, it will have capacity to accommodate up to 1,000 residents […]
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Using supercomputers to study COVID in classrooms
Scientists at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) are using supercomputers to study how aerosol viral particles are distributed in a ventilated classroom. The research is being used to determine optimal placement of HVAC outlets to minimise “dead zones” and maximise ventilation and therefore improve indoor air quality (IAQ). Using the Summit, the […]
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Government offers ventilation vouchers
As the Victorian government announces a relaxing of rules for mask wearing, it has also unveiled a stimulus package to support businesses and entice people back into venues and workplaces. Although the incentives for dining, entertainment and travel have been offered before, this time there is new funding aimed specifically at ventilation. A $60 million […]
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Talking people and workplaces at ventilation summit
The AMCA Building Ventilation Summit, to be held as a virtual event on February 24 and 25, will be looking at the role the building industry will play in preventing the airborne spread of COVID-19, and supporting Australians to return to workplaces and other indoor settings confidently, safely and sustainably. One of the key sessions […]
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AIRAH launches IAQ Assembly
AIRAH has launched the IAQ Assembly, a free suite of videos, guides and articles that reflect the latest thinking on indoor air quality and preventing the airborne spread of COVID-19. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, and particularly since the recognition of the critical role of airborne transmission, AIRAH has been curating resources about how […]
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Australian aerosol tests offer COVID-19 insights
In an Australian first, aerosol tests have been conducted to evaluate the impact of ventilation using a breathing thermal manikin. The results confirm the importance of fresh air in dispersing aerosols, highlight the role that airflows play in aerosol transmission, and raise questions about the effectiveness of a 1.5m social distancing rule indoors. The team […]
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Commercial HVAC in a post-COVID-19 world
AIRAH is hosting a webinar on commercial HVAC in a post-COVID-19 world on February 3. As Australians look to get back into offices and public spaces in 2022, there is now general recognition of airborne transmission and the important role that role that HVAC systems can play in preventing the spread of the virus. But […]
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AMCA to hold virtual Building Ventilation Summit
AMCA Australia is hosting the Building Ventilation Summit as a virtual event on February 24 and 25. “With airborne transmission now widely acknowledged as the primary source of COVID-19 transmission, the building industry has a vital role to play in supporting Australians to return to workplaces and other indoor settings confidently, safely, and sustainably,” says […]
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Victoria sets new mark with COVID-19 ventilation guide
The Victorian Department of Health has published guidelines on ventilation principles and strategies to reduce aerosol transmission of COVID-19. With the release of the document, the Victorian government has gone further than other jurisdictions in providing detailed information and advice on the subject of COVID-19 and ventilation. The state is still recording a high number […]
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COVID-19 ventilation optimisation guide for schools
AIRAH has released a guide to COVID-19 ventilation optimisation aimed at primary and secondary schools. Authored by Brad Prezant, Affil.AIRAH, the guide offers readers a better understanding of airborne transmission and building ventilation systems found in schools in Australia. It also provides advice about building a strategy for different facilities. It is intended as a […]
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Safe Work Australia updates ventilation advice
Safe Work Australia has updated its guidance on improving ventilation in indoor workspaces to minimise the risks of COVID-19, including information about modifying HVAC systems. The information is a key resource for employers, who have a duty under the model Work Health and Safety laws to minimise the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace so […]
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Could HVAC systems be used to detect COVID-19?
Researchers at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine have been attempting to detect SARS-CoV-2 in a building by testing the air passing through the HVAC systems. The team hopes this could lead to earlier detection of the virus, improved quarantine protocols, reduced transmission, and fewer outbreaks. Researchers collected samples from two large student dormitories […]
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COVID-19 considerations for operating theatres
The AIRAH Infection Control and Operating Theatre Practices Special Technical Group (STG) has produced a document that looks at the advantages, disadvantages and risks of common COVID-19 practices in operating theatres. The document provides considerations related to various measures that may be employed in operating rooms to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This includes negative […]
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Study identifies potential game-changer for UV
New research has highlighted the effectiveness of a specific wavelength of UV light in limiting the spread of COVID-19 without harming humans. According to the team at University of Colorado Boulder, the study is the first to comprehensively analyse the effects of different wavelengths of UV light on SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses. Researchers also […]
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Peak bodies call for government-endorsed guidance
A coalition of nine industry peak bodies has called for the development of credible, government-endorsed, public information regarding the airborne transmission of COVID-19 and the importance of indoor air quality. A letter addressed to the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, has been signed by the Association of Consulting Architects, the Australian Institute […]
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Victoria invests big in school ventilation
The Victorian government has announced it will invest more than $190 million in initiatives to support a COVID-safe reopening of schools, with a focus on ventilation. Billed by the government as “the biggest investment in education ventilation in Australian history”, the initiative will see 51,000 air purification devices rolled out to all government and low-fee […]
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Opinion: What’s the environment got to do with health?
Clive Broadbent, AM, L.AIRAH, is a world-renowned expert on microbial control and was involved in responding to the SARS outbreak in 2003. At that time he formed part of a WHO team that travelled to China to analyse the spread of the virus and produce guidelines on laboratory standards, hospital practices and appropriate ventilation for […]
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NSW launches ventilation review of public schools
As students and staff prepare for a return to face-to-face learning, the NSW government has begun a comprehensive review of ventilation in public schools. Described as a “mammoth undertaking”, it will look at 2,200 schools in the public system, which has more than 50,000 learning spaces. Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell […]
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Network of Australian experts releases ventilation advice
OzSAGE, a multi-disciplinary network of Australian experts from a broad range of sectors, has issued advice on safe indoor air and ventilation to reduce the spread of COVID-19. With the airborne spread of SARS-CoV-2 now widely accepted, OzSAGE has highlighted that the most fundamental measure to eliminate the virus from indoor air is ventilation. Every […]