Isolation of SARS-CoV-2 from the air in a car driven by a COVID patient with mild illness.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if viable virus could be isolated from the air within a car driven by a patient infected with SARS-CoV-2, and to assess the size range of the infectious particles. METHODS: We used a Sioutas personal cascade impactor sampler (PCIS) to screen for SARS-CoV-2 in a car driven by a COVID-19 patient. The patient, who had only mild illness without fever or cough and was not wearing a mask, drove the car for 15 min with the air conditioning turned on and windows closed. The PCIS was clipped to the sun-visor above the front passenger seat and was retrieved from the car two hours after completion of the drive. RESULTS: SARS-CoV-2 was detectable at all PCIS stages by PCR and was cultured from the section of the sampler collecting particles in the 0.25-0.50 µm size range. CONCLUSIONS: Our data highlight the potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission by minimally symptomatic persons in the closed space inside of a car and suggest that a substantial component of that risk is via aerosolized virus.

Organisational commitment, work engagement and job performance: empirical study on Nigeria’s public healthcare system

Currently, nurses’ job performance in Nigeria’s public healthcare system has been called into question and is under more pressure due to global COVID-19 pandemic. In order to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and promptness of Nigeria’s public healthcare service delivery, this study seeks to explore how work engagement could play a key role in explaining the influence of organisational commitment on nurses’ job performance. A survey based questionnaire, using a simple random technique was employed in collecting in data from 406 nurses of public hospitals in Kaduna State. The data were analysed employing the partial least squares-structural equation model (PLS-SEM). Results demonstrate that affective and normative commitment wield positive significant effects on nurses’ job performance, while work engagement significantly mediates affective commitment, normative commitment and nurses’ job performance relationships. Consequently, this study recommends that the management of public healthcare system and policymakers should improve the commitment of nurses through work engagement. Copyright © 2021 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.