Ventilation! Ventilation? From prevention and control of SARS in 2003 to COVID-19 transmission on “Diamond Princess” cruise in 2020

Analyses the SARS transmission in a hospital in 2003 and COVID-19 outbreak on the “Diamond Princess” cruise in 2020. Presents the positive and passive impacts of ventilation on the indoor transmission of respiratory infectious diseases. Increasing air rate can dilute microorganisms concentration to mitigate the virus transmission risk. On the other hand, inappropriate ventilation system design and operation may not be helpful to prevent the virus transmission in different locations or between different rooms. When an epidemic occurs, ventilation system features not only the traditional functions of temperature regulation, but also the responsibility of protecting human health and safety. How to minimize the infection risk caused by virus transmission is a new challenge for ventilation design and operation in enclosed environments.