Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
1354. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if there is a group of environmental scientists feeding into NPHET; if not, the reason; and the amount allocated to improve ventilation in buildings (details supplied). [33341/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1469. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his Department has considered evidence in an article (details supplied) which shows that good ventilation is critical to lowering Covid-19 transmission; the number of personnel in his Department who have responsibility for considering and implementing preventative policy actions to stop the onward spread of Covid-19; if ventilation is considered as part of their work; if so, if they are considering the impact of ventilation in disparate areas such as homes, cars, schools and nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33913/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1354 and 1469 together.
Lack of appropriate ventilation within healthcare settings has been associated with increased rates of infection with airborne diseases. Similarly, inadequate ventilation in nonhealthcare settings has been shown as a contributing factor in outbreaks of highly infectious airborne diseases like measles and TB. COVID-19 is a new disease, and the effect of ventilation on the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is still unclear.
There is currently no strong evidence to suggest that SARS-CoV-2 is spread through aerosol transmission via HVAC systems. However, there is evidence that COVID-19 outbreaks are more commonly associated with crowded indoor spaces, and that poor ventilation may increase the risk of transmission in such settings by facilitating the spread of droplets over longer distances.
The Deputy may wish to note that in September the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre published a guidance document which provides an analysis of the current literature examining the association between ventilation and COVID-19. The document also provides recommendations, based on the literature, for commercial and public buildings, including with regard to mechanical ventilation. The guidance also includes specific recommendations for school settings. This guidance can be found at the following link: https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/educationguidance/Guidance%20on%20non%20HCbuilding%20ventilation%20during%20COVID-19.pdf
