Airborne infections related to virus aerosol contamination at indoor cultural venues: Recommendations on how to minimize

• Published in: Public health challenges 2023-03, Vol.2 (1), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Salthammer, Tunga, Moriske, Heinz‐Jörn
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosols; COVID-19; Culture; Disease transmission; Humidity; Hygiene; Infections; Pandemics; public events; safety measures; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Ventilation; Viruses
• ISSN: 2769-2450; 2769-2450
• DOI: 10.1002/puh2.59

Background The COVID‐19 pandemic has resulted in many live events being canceled or held without spectator participation. As a result, a series of investigations were carried out and strategies developed to determine the requirements under which cultural activities can be maintained. This work summarizes published studies and provides recommendations for performing cultural events under pandemic conditions. Methods The available literature search was evaluated in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses. The results were combined with findings, guidelines, and regulations for conducting courses in other indoor environments under pandemic conditions, for example, school classrooms. Recommendations were derived, the consideration of which can enable the continuation of cultural events. Results The published studies can only take into account the previous conditions of the pandemic situation with the known virus mutations. However, the number of experimental investigations including analytical and medical proof of infections, surveys, and simulations is comparatively small. This is due to the complexity of the events as well as the priority and urgency of the school issue. Cultural events take place under very different conditions. It is therefore practically impossible to predict the risk of infection for a specific situation with many potential virus spreaders attending or to derive general rules that go beyond the known measures of vaccination, testing, masks, and distance. Conclusion Cultural events can be held under pandemic conditions provided certain requirements are met. Most study results agree on this. Any recommendations on hygiene, safety, and ventilation measures in cultural facilities under pandemic conditions can reduce the risk of infection but cannot completely eliminate it. It is also of considerable importance that visitors protect themselves individually and act responsibly. In this work, the risk of infection at indoor cultural events with a focus on SARS‐CoV‐2 is examined. Under certain circumstances, performances may also be held during pandemics provided that the appropriate framework conditions and recommended measures are observed.