Assessment of COVID-19 Droplets in a Clinical Setting to Reduce the Risk to Health Care Providers

COVID-19大流行继续快速增长，加拿大确诊病例超过8.5万例。虽然正在努力开发药物SARS-CoV-2（导致COVID-19的病毒）的治疗方法，但据世界卫生组织（WHO）称，COVID-19疫苗仍然需要12-18个月的时间。这意味着与COVID-19相关的住院治疗将继续给我们的医疗保健系统带来压力。据估计，安大略省已知的COVID-19病例中有七分之一是由医疗服务提供者造成的。因此，我们迫切需要保护一线医护人员。

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to grow rapidly with over 85,000 confirmed cases in Canada. While efforts are being made to develop pharmaceutical SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) remedies, a COVID-19 vaccine still has a 12-18-month horizon according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This means that COVID-19 related hospitalizations will continue to stress our healthcare system. It is estimated that healthcare providers make up 1 in 7 known COVID-19 cases in Ontario. There is therefore an immediate need to protect our frontline health care professionals. Our partner organization, Unity Health Toronto, is in need of practical clinical guidelines to effectively use limited personal protective equipment sources. This requires an understanding of aerosol and droplet dispersion in a clinical setting. For example, critical information such as how clinical procedures affect COVID-19 carrying respiratory droplet release is not known. This project will develop a droplet-laden flow visualization experimental setup for optical measurements of aerosol and droplet size distribution and dynamics, and volume plume dispersion, in such a way that the platform can be used in both experimental laboratories and in clinical settings. Additionally, our team will develop a mechanical device that can simulate distribution and volume plume dispersion during human expiratory activities (e.g. talking, coughing, and sneezing), and during various clinical procedures, such as endotracheal intubation, or chest compressions. This work will aid Unity Health create practical clinical guidelines to combat COVID-19.