Airborne transmission of Covid-19: implications for Irish hospitals

Abstract

The pandemic spread of COVID-19 raises many questions about its transmissibility. The initial consensus was that spread was primarily by contact with a contaminated surface and by inhalation of droplets. However, airborne transmission is increasingly considered probable. Clarifying COVID-19 transmission is crucial for effective infection prevention and control (IPC) and healthcare worker (HCW) protection. SARS-C0V-2 is more transmissible than influenza, with a mean reproductive number of 2.65, even if not as high as other viruses such as measles. Personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages, IPC lapses, workload intensity and other factors not yet known, may explain significant hospital transmission during the early stages of the pandemic in Ireland and elsewhere.</p