We have long known that buildings play a critical role in infectious disease transmission.
We have long known that buildings play a critical role in infectious disease transmission. We’re making sure they’re part of the coronavirus conversation, too. We have established that healthy building environments play an important role in combatting the spread of infectious disease, including coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Read about the latest news, research, reports, and tools we’ve developed to fight COVID-19 transmission and ensure that healthy buildings can be used to control the spread both now and as we move forward.
Learn More at COVID-19.ForHealth.org
COVID-19 Risk Transmission Calculator
As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, people around the world often ask themselves the same question as they head into various buildings and scenarios: What changes can we make to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission? To help provide some insight into this question, the Harvard Healthy Buildings Program has released this beta version of the ASIMI (Aerosol and Surface Interaction Model for Infectious diseases) tool for calculating the risk of COVID-19 transmission, which estimates potential infection risk based on several factors and transmission pathways.
COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines
In alignment with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and public health recommendations, the Healthy Buildings Team at Harvard has prepared guidelines to aid in the prevention of COVID-19 through basics of COVID-19 prevention, cleaning and disinfecting of electronics, and building control and operation. In addition to these general preventative best practices, we provide specific recommendations to reduce COVID-19 spread in food establishments, childcare, and public transportation facilities.
COVID Path Forward
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic presents a daunting challenge, with only “less bad” options available in the short term until a vaccine is ready. Yet, as a country, we must choose a way forward. Aggressive social distancing has prevented our healthcare systems from being overrun. At great economic and societal cost, we have bought ourselves time. So what comes next? A principled way forward has emerged, that can save lives and the economy. We are presenting this as a road map here, but it’s not ours alone – it was compiled based on what leading experts from various disciplines have all proposed throughout March and April. This process is called consilience – when different disciplines all arrive at the same conclusion independently. We have reached that point in this pandemic.
