JULY 14, 2020

When a Cough Can Kill: How Hospital HVACs Fight COVID-19

At a hospital in Wuhan, China, a group of investigators swiped swabs over high-touch areas such as computer mice, bed handrails and trash cans, all of which tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. Perhaps most concerning, traces of the SARS-CoV-2 virus were present in the air.

Like influenza, COVID-19 is transmitted by respiratory droplets, which can linger in an enclosed space for more than 10 minutes. A patient who asks for a glass of water in a crowded hospital hallway can