Longitudinal Analysis of Built Environment and Aerosol Contamination Associated with Isolated COVID-19 Positive Individuals
Authors: Patrick F. Horve, Leslie G. Dietz, Garis Bowles, Georgia MacCrone, Andreas Olsen-Martinez, Dale Northcutt, Vincent Moore, Liliana Barnatan, Hooman Parhizkar, Kevin G. Van Den Wymelenberg
This repository contains the data and scripts required to recreate the analyses and figures supporting the conclusions in Longitudinal Analysis of Built Environment and Aerosol Contamination Associated with Isolated COVID-19 Positive Individuals.
The indoor environment is the primary location for the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), largely driven by respiratory particle accumulation in the air and increased connectivity between the individuals occupying indoor spaces. In this study, we aimed to track a cohort of subjects as they occupied a COVID-19 isolation dormitory to better understand the impact of subject and environmental viral load over time, symptoms, and room ventilation on the detectable viral load within a single room. We find that subject samples demonstrate a decrease in overall viral load over time, symptoms significantly impact environmental viral load, and we provide the first real-world evidence for decreased aerosol SARS-CoV-2 load with increasing ventilation, both from mechanical and window sources. These results may guide environmental viral surveillance strategies and be used to better control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within built environments and better protect those caring for individuals with COVID-19.