Covid-19 transmission : air conditioning system and the impact to young children in childcare centre

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic began in January 2020 had raised significant concerns regarding virus transmission in indoor environments, particularly among young children in childcare centres. The study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 transmission during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO). The study focuses on the air conditioning system of Taska Mama Hayati which is a childcare centre registered with the Social Welfare Department (JKM) that had been allowed to operate from 4th May 2020 onwards. The aim of the study is to understand how COVID-19 spreads and affects young children through the air conditioning systems with possible strategies to overcome the spread of the virus. A qualitative research strategy was employed to explore the relationship between air conditioning systems and indoor air quality effect on children in Taska Mama Hayati childcare centre. The primary data was collected through field work observation, semi-structured interview and indoor air quality measurement at Taska Mama Hayati. The semi-structured interview approach targeted childcare owner, teachers, parents, and air conditioning technician at Taska Mama Hayati. Literature review has identified that the young children in the childcare centre are impacted by the COVID-19 across multiple domains, which are physical health, learning, social interaction, behaviour and emotional well-being. The findings from the study found that poor operation and lack of maintenance on the air conditioning system has made the spread of COVID-19 virus increased. The study recommended that a regular maintenance and timely filter changes in the air conditioning system are important to improve the operational performance that can effectively trap and remove airborne particles and viruses. The insights obtained from this single case study serve as a basis for recommendations for similar studies aimed at enhancing air conditioning system performance in others childcare centre.