The effect of natural ventilation on airborne diseases such as (COVID-19)

It is believed that increasing the rate of ventilation reduces the cross-infection of airborne diseases by removing or reducing the nuclei of airborne droplets. A high ventilation rate can reduce polluted air within the area faster and reduce the risk of infection.

A well-designed natural ventilation system is often more effective than air conditioning in enhancing effective infection control, by increasing the number of air exchange. The natural ventilation systems or hybrid systems for natural ventilation and air conditioning are advised to be used in buildings, especially health care buildings, as a measure to reduce the risk of infection as well as energy consumption. Natural ventilation is able to offer great ventilation rates with low energy consumption. Compared to mechanical ventilation, natural ventilation can provide much higher ventilation rates.

On the positive side, an efficient ventilation design can also enhance thermal comfort (for example, enhancing cooling), to improve patient and worker well-being. Adequate ventilation can reduce the transmission of infection in buildings.

Natural ventilation can be one of the effective environmental measures to reduce the risk of the spread of infections inside the building. The direction of flow can control the transport of pollutants between areas with different functions. Correctly controlling the direction of airflow from clean areas to dirty areas is of great importance in preventing the transmission of loaded viruses between rooms.