In a July 9, 2020 update, the World Health Organization expanded its coronavirus guidance to include the possibility in certain circumstances of airborne transmission, in which the virus could be spread through tiny droplets that linger in the air (link: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-how-is-covid-19-transmitted). 

Based on a Lexology article by Covington and Burling, LLP (attached), federal agencies are already beginning to highlight best practices for HVAC systems to address these concerns. The article mentions various federal agency recommendations including filtration, UV-C air cleaners, ventilation, and relative humidity. This is also in line with some of the science identified by a July 9, 2020 McKinsey article (attached). 

This item asks the City Administration to closely monitor the evidence concerning the potential of HVAC systems to limit the transmission of COVID-19, and to review the City's current ventilation guidelines for its facilities accordingly.