Analysis of production and spread of aerosolized pathogens: toward quantitative distancing, occupancy, and ventilation guidelines for work and public places

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Many infectious diseases, including COVID-19, are transmitted through direct contact with aerosols produced by an infected person or secondary contact with contaminated surfaces. Such aerosols are introduced into the environment by an infected person during expiratory events, such as breathing, speaking, sneezing, and coughing, and their production and spread directly fall into the domain of fluid mechanics. The ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 has demonstrated that effective social distancing guidelines are critical to reduce the risk of subsequent inhalation of contaminated aerosolized particles. However, it also demonstrated critical gaps in our understanding of aerosol disease transmission and lack of reliable mitigation and containment strategies. For example, the current social distancing rules are based on simple estimates of the spread of contaminated aerosols produced in a static environment. They therefore underestimate the safe distances that need to be maintained in various activities at workplaces and public areas, where effects of pathogen accumulation and ventilation must be considered. Further, there are currently no data-driven health and safety guidelines available for the appropriate usage and selection of personal protective equipment (PPE), occupancy limits, and the adaptive guidelines for mitigating risks of airborne transmission of infectious diseases and maintaining business activities in pandemic, endemic, or epidemic conditions. The proposed research will address these deficiencies through a methodical quantitative analysis, producing reliable and adaptive social distancing, occupancy limits, ventilation settings, and PPE usage guidelines for indoor workplaces. The results will be translated directly to the Canadian industry through the non-profit project partner network which provides workplace health and safety services to Canadian industry. The outcomes will be instrumental for maintaining the essential levels of economic and social activities during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, mitigating the adverse impact of seasonal epidemics, and preparing Canada for inevitable future pandemic events.