As the weather begins to turn warmer and people spend more time at home, many will be thinking about cranking up the AC. Some might wonder whether COVID-19 can spread faster in an air conditioned home.

Waleed Javaid, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, says it is possible, but not likely.

If someone in the house who is infected with the virus is coughing and sneezing and not being careful, then tiny virus particles in respiratory droplets could be circulated in the air. Anything that moves air currents around the room can spread these droplets, whether it is an air conditioning system, a window-mounted AC unit, a forced heating system, or even a fan, according to Dr. Javaid.

But he notes the added risk is limited and can be overcome with careful observance of the general rules for minimizing the spread of the virus. The most important point is that people with the virus should be very careful about covering their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze. Anyone who is infected should stay in an out-of-the way part of the residence, away from others, he says. Those in the residence should treat others as if they could be infected with the virus by maintaining a safe distance and frequently washing their hands.

One thing you can do if you are a homeowner and have a forced air heating and cooling system is ensure that the air filter in your unit is replaced according to the filter instructions, he said. Some filters are designed to remove particles such as respiratory droplets.

Also, opening a window can help bring in fresh air from the outside and disperse stale air inside, and that could help reduce the possibility of the spread of the virus particles in the house.

Questions about the possible role of air conditioners in spreading the virus arose after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently posted a paper to be published in the July 2020 issue of an agency publication. In the paper, Chinese researchers traced an outbreak of COVID-19 to the air flow in an air-conditioned restaurant and recommended increasing the distance between tables and improving ventilation.

Currently, one of the best ways to protect against COVID-19 is to get yourself, and all eligible household members, vaccinated. Vaccination has been proven to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 as well as transmitting the illness

If you would like to get a COVID-19 vaccine, contact your state or local health department for scheduling information.

 

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