Hong Kong hospitals select IQAir
IQAir North America originally announced in 2003 that the Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HKHA), after rigorous testing for virus control, selected IQAir’s advanced air filtration systems as a tool for combating the SARS-CoV-1 virus. In 2020, the Hong Kong Hospital Authority once more relied on IQAir technology to help combat SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
The HKHA’s selection of IQAir for its 43 hospitals and 47 outpatient clinics marked the first time specialized room air cleaners were used as a control measure against SARS-CoV-1.
IQAir’s HealthPro 250 has been used to reduce the spread of SARS, swine flu, bird flu, COVID-19 and other airborne viruses by hospitals and medical centers around the world.
During the 2003 epidemic, the Hong Kong region was one of the worst affected areas with 1755 reported SARS-CoV-1 cases (376 of which concerned healthcare workers), resulting in a total of 300 deaths.
At that time, the HKHA focused on special engineering controls as part of their strategy in the fight against SARS-CoV-1. In order to find the most effective and reliable solution, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) of the Hong Kong Government performed rigorous tests on induct HVAC systems and room air cleaners. With the help of sophisticated laser particle counters that record the number of particles in the air, even those down below the size of a virus, the EMSD tested the actual filtration efficiency of numerous air filtration systems. After weeks of testing and the installation of several trial systems, the HKHA finally chose IQAir as the only room air cleaner for SARS-CoV-1 patients’ rooms. The system they selected was the IQAir HealthPro 250 connected to an IQAir FlexVac mobile source capture system.
At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, IQAir also provided HealthPro 250 air purifiers to hospitals in Wuhan, China, where the SARS-CoV-2 virus was originally detected.
First to receive the purifiers were the radiology unit, respiratory unit, and others at Tongji Hospital, affiliated with the Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Air purifiers were additionally provided to Wuhan Union Hospital.
About IQAir
IQAir is a renowned Swiss technology company, committed to empowering individuals, organizations and governments with knowledge-based solutions for certain improvements in air quality.