We wanted to make sure you saw the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how COVID-19 spreads through the air. A freshly updated CDC webpage now acknowledges that the virus can spread through airborne transmission, which means that infected droplets can suspend in the air for minutes or hours, even if the infected person has left the room.
This also means that ventilation strategies play an important role in reducing the airborne risk of COVID-19, and the NAM is tracking new approaches being deployed in manufacturing facilities to increase circulation and outdoor air. NAM Director of Labor and Employment Policy Drew Schneider is working with a public–private partnership connected to the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to share data, research and best practices. You can email Drew for more information or to let us know how your company has used ventilation systems to reduce the risk of spread.