COVID-19: A Call for Physical Scientists and Engineers

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of those global challenges that transcends territorial, political, ideological, religious, cultural, and certainly academic boundaries. Public health and healthcare workers are at the frontline, working to contain and to mitigate the spread of this disease. Although intervening biological and immunological responses against viral infection may seem far from the physical sciences and engineering that typically work with inanimate objects, there actually is much that canand shouldbe done to help in this global crisis. In this Perspective, we convert the basics of infectious respiratory diseases and viruses into physical sciences and engineering intuitions, and through this exercise, we present examples of questions, hypotheses, and research needs identified based on clinicians' experiences. We hope researchers in the physical sciences and engineering will proactively study these challenges, develop new hypotheses, define new research areas, and work with biological researchers, healthcare, and public health professionals to create user-centered solutions and to inform the general public, so that we can better address the many challenges associated with the transmission and spread of infectious respiratory diseases.

Sanitization During and After COVID-19 Pandemic: A Short Review

“…These airborne viruses contaminate the ambience and settle on surfaces. Huang et al ( 2020 ) explain how fomites formed from deposited droplets are potentially infectious. The pathways for infection explained by Huang et al ( 2020 ) creates a need for an understanding of the process of reducing the fomites and virus laden airborne droplets to break the spread of COVID-19.…”

“…Huang et al ( 2020 ) explain how fomites formed from deposited droplets are potentially infectious. The pathways for infection explained by Huang et al ( 2020 ) creates a need for an understanding of the process of reducing the fomites and virus laden airborne droplets to break the spread of COVID-19. Diwan et al ( 2020 ) simulated dry cough and showed a drop in temperataure of cough-fluid along with a lateral spread of flow due to turbulent entrainment.…”

Structural basis for the inhibition of SARS-CoV2 main protease by Indian medicinal plant-derived antiviral compounds

“…The virus replicates in the upper and lower respiratory tract, forming lesions (Chan, Yuan, et al., 2020 ). The general symptoms observed in the infected individuals are fever, cough, dyspnoea and lesion in the lungs (Huang et al., 2020 ). In the advanced stage, the symptoms of this virus show pneumonia which progresses to severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) which results in the need for life-support to sustain the patient's life (Lai et al., 2020 ).…”

On-Mask Chemical Modulation of Respiratory Droplets

“…There should be many ways to set up physicochemical barriers to drastically reduce the number and viability of the viruses before they reach the host and breach the last line of biological and immunological defenses. 2 Public health measures to control and mitigate any infectious diseases must address one or more of the three necessary steps required for transmission ( Figure 1 ). This includes identifying and isolating the source, breaking the chain of transmission, and protecting the susceptible hosts.…”