Fluid Dynamics researchers contribution to COVID-19 battle

Professor Cath Noakes is a member of SAGE and the hospital onset COVID-19, environmental, and children's working groups. The children's working group is examining transmission in children and within schools. Using the principles of fluid dynamics - the analysis of air flows – Professor Noakes’ research team at Leeds simulate pathogen spread in hospitals and other public buildings and analyse how to reduce any threat through more effective ventilation, air-filtration and disinfection systems. They also look at microorganisms on surfaces, and model how people touching contaminated surfaces can move microorganisms around the environment and become infected themselves. Read the articles 'Leeds researchers providing advice at the heart at Government' and 'The tough decisions in tackling coronavirus'.

Professor Nik Kapur, who led the University team, said:  "The collaboration showed how the University was able to support colleagues at LTHT who had brilliant ideas but insufficient time to investigate them because they were having to prepare their hospitals to deal with the unfolding pandemic.” Read the full article, 'Simple fix creates coronavirus breathing aids'.

Professor Kapur went on to add: “We set out to make sure that the Leeds Venturi valve had two significant improvements over existing Venturi valves.
"One, that they made efficient use of hospital oxygen supplies - vital given that the demand on supplies is likely to be high - and two, that they could be easily manufactured.
“As the pandemic sweeps across the world, researchers need to think about solutions and technologies that can be implemented in developing countries. This is one of those solutions.”

Team members of the COVID-19 Leeds research group include CDT student Rory Hetherington. Read the full article, 'Low cost ventilatory support for COVID-19 patients'.