Draft Guidelines for Ventilation to Control Aerosol Infection Based on COVID-19 Outbreaks in Hospitals in Japan

Abstract

Outbreaks of COVID-19 infections occurred in some hospitals. Investigations into air conditioning and ventilation were conducted in several hospitals where outbreaks had occurred. It was noted that ventilation performance was insufficient to prevent aerosol infections due to poor air conditioning and ventilation equipment maintenance. The cooperation of the Society of Air-Conditioning and Sanitary Engineers of Japan and the Japanese Society for Infection Prevention and Control collected information on national and international standards and guidelines for ventilation measures in general hospital wards. On the basis of the survey results on the occurrence of COVID-19 outbreaks and hospital response, proposed ventilation measures for three stages (a. normal conditions, b. increased risk of outbreaks, and c. treatment of infected patients) in existing hospitals were presented.