COVID-19 Prevention: Effective Strategies to Reduce Transmission

February 18, 2020

Written by Oliver Dsa, MSc, senior virologist at Airmid Healthgroup, where he leads testing and research on airborne pathogens, indoor air quality, and antiviral technologies in real-world environments.

Understanding how COVID-19 spreads, and how to prevent it, remains critical. COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, emerged in late 2019 and has since affected millions globally. While its estimated fatality rate (~2%) is lower than that of SARS (9.5%) and MERS (37.1%), it far exceeds that of seasonal influenza (~0.04–0.088%). This lower, but still significant, mortality, combined with high transmissibility, has enabled SARS-CoV-2 to spread rapidly, impacting public health and economies worldwide.

Live, mobile carriers, infected individuals, can unknowingly spread the virus through respiratory droplets, aerosol particles, or contaminated surfaces. As such, prevention and environmental hygiene remain the most effective control strategies.

Why SARS-CoV-2 Is Highly Contagious

Like SARS and MERS, SARS-CoV-2 likely originated in bats and was transmitted to humans via an intermediate host. However, unlike its predecessors, SARS-CoV-2 spreads more easily between people.

While SARS led to 8,096 cases globally and has since been contained, and MERS remains relatively isolated, SARS-CoV-2’s transmission rate has resulted in far more infections and sustained community spread, making it a persistent public health threat.

Challenges in Controlling COVID-19 Spread

Despite early efforts, quarantines, lockdowns, and border controls—SARS-CoV-2 proved difficult to contain. Reasons include:

• Delayed symptom onset (2–14 days), making early diagnosis difficult

• Overlap with other respiratory symptoms, delaying isolation

• No targeted antiviral cure, prolonging infectious periods

• Potential for airborne persistence and surface contamination, requiring thorough disinfection

These challenges underscore the importance of prevention over treatment.

Key Prevention Strategies for COVID-19

Until a vaccine or cure became widely available, non-pharmaceutical interventions were essential in controlling the spread. Preventative actions include:

• Physical distancing and mask use

• Frequent handwashing and respiratory hygiene

• Disinfection of high-touch surfaces

• Adequate indoor ventilation and air purification

Even as vaccines have rolled out, these strategies remain relevant—especially in high-risk environments.

Antimicrobial Technologies for COVID-19 Control

Innovative antiviral and antimicrobial technologies can support infection control by reducing viral load in indoor environments. Products like air purifiers, facemasks, biocidal agents, and treated textiles must be rigorously tested to verify their ability to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 or its surrogates.

This testing must replicate real-world conditions and be carried out by certified labs.

COVID-19 Product Testing at Airmid Health Labs

At Airmid Healthgroup, we provide advanced antiviral testing services using Human Coronavirus 229E and OC43 as surrogates for SARS-CoV-2. Our facilities are equipped with custom-built chambers to simulate indoor environments and support global standards for efficacy evaluation.

Related Tests

• Aerosolization chambers (28.5 m³ and 30 m³) for virus dispersion studies

• ISO 18184:2019: Outlines the test method for evaluating the antiviral activity of textile products

• 14476:2013+A1:2015: Outlines a quantitative suspension test for assessing the virucidal effectiveness of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics

• ISO 18061:2014: Outlines a testing method to assess the antiviral activity of materials containing photocatalytic components or featuring photocatalytic films on their surfaces

• ISO 21702:2019: Outlines a test method for evaluating the antiviral activity on plastics and non-porous surfaces

Related Blogs

An Overview of the ASHRAE 185 Series: Standards for Evaluating Air-Cleaning Technologies

FAQ: ISO 15714:2019 – What You Need to Know About Bioaerosol Efficacy Testing for Air Treatment Devices

The Power of UV-C: Disinfecting and Reusing N95 Respirators

Keywords

Covid-19, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, antiviral testing, COVID-19 product testing, surface disinfection, airborne virus control, antiviral textiles, pandemic hygiene

Oliver Dsa MSc

Oliver Dsa, MSc, is a senior scientist at Airmid Healthgroup and a leading specialist in environmental virology and the transmission dynamics of airborne pathogens. With extensive experience in high-containment laboratory research and virological assay development, Oliver plays a central role in the design and execution of GLP-compliant studies that evaluate the real-world performance of antimicrobial, antiviral, and air purification technologies.

At Airmid Healthgroup, Oliver’s work supports global manufacturers, healthcare innovators, and regulatory teams by generating scientifically robust data that withstands scrutiny from FDA, EPA, ISO, and CE marking bodies. He is deeply engaged in testing solutions for infection prevention across healthcare, residential, commercial, and transport environments.

Through his contributions to Airmid’s blog, Oliver translates complex virology and bioaerosol science into actionable insights.

His writing supports product developers, indoor air quality experts, and public health professionals in navigating the fast-evolving intersection of airborne disease control, ventilation standards (including ASHRAE 241), and surface decontamination strategies.

In his blog contributions, Oliver breaks down complex scientific issues—ranging from airborne pathogens to surface decontamination and beyond—into clear, actionable insights for professionals in healthcare, building science, consumer product development, and public health.

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