Understanding environmental and airborne routes of transmission

了解COVID-19的病原体SARS-CoV-2如何在人与人之间传播对疫情控制至关重要。对SARS-CoV-2的环境稳定性知之甚少，确定环境是否/如何影响病毒的存活和/或传播（传播）是当前的研究重点（如世卫组织全球研究与创新论坛所确定）。这项研究将确定SARS-CoV-2在空气和不同类型的表面上（例如在医疗保健、家庭和社区环境中发现的表面）能存活多长时间。对这些表面进行有效净化的方法也将进行研究。还将开发技术，以便为卫生保健设施中的病原体开发有效的抽样方法。实验将使用英国公共卫生部的专门设施和设备，并将在代表不同国家和/或环境的受控环境条件下进行（例如，在一系列温度和湿度下）。如果要充分了解SARS-CoV-2的传播，这项研究是必不可少的。获得的结果将阐明环境因素如何影响病毒的传播，并将为在全世界卫生保健和非卫生保健环境中预防和控制感染的有效（和基于证据的）战略和指导提供信息。

Understanding how the causatative agent of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 is spread from person-to-person is essential for outbreak control. Little is known about the environmental stability of SARS-CoV-2 and establishing if/how the environment affects the survival and/or transmissibility (spread) of the virus is an immedate research priority (as identifed by the WHO Global Research and Innovation Forum). This study will determine how long SARS-CoV-2 will survive in the air and on different types of surfaces (e.g. those found in the healthcare, domestic and community setting). Methods to effectively decontaminate these surfaces will also be investigated. Techniques will also be developed in order to develop validated sampling methods for the agent in healthcare facilities. Experiments will be carried out using specialist facilities and equipment at Public Health England and will be conducted under controlled environmental conditions (e.g. at a range of temperatures and humidities) representative of those found in different countries and/or settings. This study is essential if the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is to be fully understood. The results obtained will clarify how environmental factors can impact the spread of the virus and will inform effective (and evidence-based) strategies and guidance for preventing and controlling infection in healthcare and non-healthcare settings worldwide.