Recommendations and reflections on natural ventilation in healthcare buildings from World Health Organization

Abstract:

Infection prevention and control in healthcare buildings is important in blocking the spread of infectious diseases. As the most common form of ventilation, natural ventilation can reduce the infection risk in healthcare workers, patients and visitors in healthcare buildings. This study summarizes the recommendations from the World Health Organization on natural ventilation in healthcare buildings during the epidemic period from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (2003-2022), the current situation of such issues in China, and the enlightenment from the recommendations. The recommendations proposed by the World Health Organization are relatively clear and specific, and worthy for reference learning for relevant management departments and research institutions in China. Some of these experiences can provide useful references for the future revision of Chinese standards or codes such as Technique standard for isolation in hospitals, Management specification of air cleaning technique in hospitals, Code for design of infectious diseases hospital and Code for design of general hospital.