Studies / reports
Supported by the Coalition
...in the Journal of Infection and Public Health
Science tells us that portable air filters reduce infection risk. It's time for public health authorities to make this clear
PUBLISHED: March 2025
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian public health advisors and politicians have shared mixed messages about the utility of portable air filters (PAFs) for mitigating the transmission of airborne infectious diseases. Some public health advisors and decision-makers have also suggested that PAFs are cumbersome or require expert advice. We take this opportunity to review evidence and address myths about PAFs. In short, PAFs are an important tool to help reduce the risk of transmission of airborne infectious diseases. Moreover, PAFs are relatively simple to use, and there is a variety of high-quality guidance available for their deployment. We share this science here with the expectation that, going forward, public health authorities will position PAFs appropriately in infection prevention and control plans for both health care and community settings.
WRITTEN BY:
Tianyuan Li, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo,
Amy Katz,
MAP, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto | Faculty of Information, University of Toronto
Jo-Ann Osei-Twum, MSc
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
Paul Bozek, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
Nav Persaud, MAP, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto
Patricia O'Campo, MAP, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto | Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
Jeffrey A. Siegel, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto | Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering
LLana James, MSc
Canada-US Coalition to End Race Correction and Health Systems Transformation, AI, Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences Fellow, Queen’s University
Victor Leung,
Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia | Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia | Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, St Paul's Hospital, Providence Health Care
Long-term outcomes following hospital admission for COVID-19 versus seasonal influenza: a cohort study
COVID-19 is worse than the flu, leading to more disability, “higher long-term risks of death and adverse health outcomes in nearly every organ system” (except respiratory - where flu takes a toll). For more about the December 14, 2023 study, see this interview.ter to the editor at the Toronto Star points out it takes more than vaccines to avoid infection.
CANADIAN EXPERIENCES WITH LONG-TERM SYMPTOMS FOLLOWING COVID-19
In December 2023, Statistics Canada said re-infections increase the odds of Long COVID. 3.5 million Canadian adults reported these long-term symptoms. Almost half have no improvements. Black Canadians are more likely to have multiple infections.
NEED FOR REVISIONS TO THE IPC GUIDANCE TO PROTECT HEALTHCARE WORKERS FROM
COVID-19
The British Medical Association wrote this letter to the country’s National Health Service in December, 2023. The virus is airborne, they say; healthcare workers need respirators and ventilation, not guidance that ignores health and safety law.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Airborne Transmission: Science Rejected, Lives Lost. Can Society Do Better?
May 15, 2023
Ten Scientific Reasons in Support of Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV2
The Lancet
April 15, 2021
*See also a PDF version of the long Twitter thread by Jose-Luis Jimenez, the lead author on this article
COMING SOON: Recommended book list