Alan Kelly
Question:103. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the advice NPHET has provided to him on ventilation, particularly air purifiers, in combatting Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37596/21]
View answerTuesday, 13 July 2021
Questions (103)
Written answers
Building ventilation has remained one element of the broader infection prevention and control (IPC) response over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The appreciation of the role of ventilation has evolved in the context of developing experience and evidence; guidance, training, and measures implemented reflects this learning. Links to published guidance are provided below for the Deputy’s information.
The NPHET for COVID-19 regards ventilation as an important IPC measure and a NPHET subgroup, called the Expert Group on the Role of Ventilation in Reducing Transmission of COVID-19, was accordingly established in the early part of 2021 to provide scientific advice on ventilation and other control measures to reduce the risk of long-range (airborne) transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
The Group has a wide range of multi-disciplinary expertise in indoor air quality and related areas including, aerosol science, architecture, engineering, regulation, occupational hygiene, exposure science, virology, microbiology, and public health medicine.
It was agreed that the work of the Expert Review Group and its reports would be taken forward by the Senior Officials Group on COVID-19. Since then, it has informed Departments’ and Agencies’ work in respect of sectoral guidance and public information regarding ventilation.
The Expert Group submitted two reports while reporting to the NPHET at the Department of Health, which were duly considered by the HPSC and HSE-AMRIC in the context of updating its guidance. These reports, along with relevant agendas and meeting minutes are available on the gov.ie website: www.gov.ie/en/publication/aa43c-expert-group-on-the-role-of-ventilation-in-reducing-transmission-of-covid-19/#reports.
It is the responsibility of individual Government departments to provide sector-specific COVID-19 advice on ventilation as per their respective remits. In this regard, the Deputy’s attention is drawn to some of the published guidance across a number of sectors, cited below.
Healthcare sector (HSE-AMRIC guidance):
“Acute Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Precautions for Possible or Confirmed COVID-19 in a Pandemic Setting V.2.3 09.06.2021” www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/InfectionPreventionandControlPrecautionsforAcuteSettings.pdf
“Interim Guidance on Infection Prevention and Control for the Health Service Executive 2021 V1.3. 11.01.2021” www.hpsc.ie/az/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/hseinfectionpreventionandcontrolguidanceandframework/Interim%20HSE%20Guidance%20on%20IPC.pdf
More generally, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has published Guidance on Non-Healthcare Building Ventilation during COVID-19. The Guidance provides broad recommendations, based on the literature, for commercial and public buildings: www.hpsc.ie/az/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/buildingsandfacilitiesguidance/
Education sector:
www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/educationguidance/Guidance%20on%20non%20HCbuilding%20ventilation%20during%20COVID-19.pdf
www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools/
Workplaces, Businesses (including hospitality), Retails Settings, and Shopping Centres:
A revised Work Safely Protocol (previously the Return to Work Protocol) was published on 14th May 2021 as a collaborative effort between employers and employees, which was led by the Departments of Enterprise,Trade and Employment and Health, with the support of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and with significant input by public health from the Health Service Executive (HSE). The revised Protocol incorporates the current advice on the Public Health measures needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community and workplaces including enhanced detail on ventilation: www.gov.ie/en/publication/bb7fd-work-safely-protocol/
https://www.nsai.ie/images/uploads/general/NSAI-COVID19-Retail-Guidelines-13012021.pdf - www.nsai.ie/images/uploads/general/NSAI-COVID19-Shopping-Centre-Guidelines-13012021.pdf
Fáilte Ireland: Overview Guidelines to Reopening - failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Overview-Guidelines-to-Re-opening.pdf
Fáilte Ireland: Guidelines for Reopening Restaurants and Cafes failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Restaurants-and-Cafes.pdf
Fáilte Ireland: Guidelines for Reopening Hotels and Guesthouses - failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Hotels-and-Guesthouses.pdf
There is also additional guidance on Gov.ie and on the HSE website which outlines the importance of ventilation in households, this can be found here:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/472f64-covid-19-coronavirus-guidance-and-advice/ - www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/how-coronavirus-is-spread.html