Hwang, S.E., Chang, J.H., et al. 2020.”Possible Aerosol Transmission of COVID-19 Associated with an Outbreak in an Apartment in Seoul, South Korea, 2020″ International Journal of Infectious Diseases, December 16, 2020.

Scientists have strongly implied that aerosols could be the plausible cause of COVID-19 transmission; however, aerosol transmission remains controversial.

The study
We investigated the epidemiological relationship among infected cases on a recent cluster infection of COVID-19 in an apartment building in Seoul, South Korea. All infected cases were found along two vertical lines of the building, and each line was connected through a single air duct in the bathroom for natural ventilation. Our investigation found no other possible contact between the cases than the airborne infection through a single air duct in the bathroom. The virus from the first infected case can be spread to upstairs and downstairs through the air duct by the (reverse) stack effect, explaining the air movement in a vertical shaft.

Conclusions
This study suggests aerosol transmission, especially indoors with insufficient ventilation, which is underappreciated.

Keywords: aerosol, SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, South Korea, ventilation, indoor, bathroom, stack effect

Highlights:
• Scientists have strongly implied the aerosol transmission of COVID-19.
• An outbreak occurred along two vertical lines in an apartment in South Korea.
• The virus can be spread through the air duct by the (reverse) stack effect.
• Aerosol transmission indoors with insufficient ventilation need to be appreciated.

FULL TEXT:

https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(20)32558-3/fulltext

Publication History
Accepted: December 10, 2020
Received in revised form: November 27, 2020
Received: October 9, 2020