CR3 News Magazine 2020 VOL 4: September Radon, Schools & Home Study | Page 44

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Announcing EPA’s New Indoor Air and COVID-19
Webpage
COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly through close contact from person-to-person. However,
some uncertainty remains about the relative importance of different routes of transmission of
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). There is growing
evidence that this virus can remain airborne for longer times and further distances than originally
thought. In addition to close contact with infected people and contaminated surfaces, there is a
possibility that spread of COVID-19 may also occur via airborne particles in indoor environments,
in some circumstances beyond the 2 m (about 6 ft) range encouraged by social distancing
recommendations
However, there are straightforward steps that can be taken to reduce potential airborne
transmission of COVID-19 and the focus of this material is on those measures. The layout and
design of a building, as well as occupancy and type of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
(HVAC) system, can all impact potential airborne spread of the virus.
Although improvements to ventilation and air cleaning cannot on their own eliminate the risk of
airborne transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, EPA recommends precautions to reduce the
potential for airborne transmission of the virus.These precautions include increasing ventilation
with outdoor air and air filtration as part of a larger strategy that includes social distancing,
wearing cloth face coverings or masks, surface cleaning and disinfecting, handwashing, and
other precautions.
By themselves, measures to reduce airborne exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19 are
not enough since airborne transmission is not the only way exposure to SARS-CoV-2 could
potentially occur.
Topics Covered on EPA’s Indoor Air and COVID-19 webpage include:
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Indoor Air in Homes and Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Ventilation and Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Air Cleaners, HVAC Filters and Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Additional Measures to Address COVID-19 in Public Indoor Spaces
COVID-19, Wildfires, and Indoor Air Quality
Science and Technical Resources related to Indoor Air and Coronavirus (COVID-19)
o Indoor Air and COVID-19 Key References and Publications